Backpack Bear - Quiz 8 Answers

Which Australian icon stands on Bennelong Point in Sydney? Sydney Opera House
What is the common link between A.B. Paterson, Adam Lindsay Gordon and Henry Lawson? They are all poets.
You like to read the Tom Weekly series - who wrote them? Tristan Bancks
Which Australian yacht won the Americas Cup in 1983, the first time in history that the USA lost? Australia II
What international conflict was Australia involved in from 1950 - 1953? Korean War
Why is Mervyn Victor Richardson in the Inventors' Hall of Fame? He invented the first rotary lawn mower
Which Australian actor is the star of the Lethal Weapon series of movies? Mel Gibson
You have won the Brownlow Medal - which sport have you excelled in? Australian Rules

At what age can you vote in a federal general election? 18
Does Australia lie north or south of the Tropic of Cancer? South
Which country is closest to Australia - Papua New Guinea or New Zealand? Papua New Guinea
Which feature of our natural landscape can be seen from space? Great Barrier Reef
What do the letters A.C.T. stand for? Australian Capital Territory
How old is the landform known as Australia?
- 4300 billion years
- 4300 million years
- 4300 thousand years
- 4300 years?
You are in the Kalbarri National Park - which state or territory are you in? Western Australia
Which two authors teamed together to write the Wicked and Deadly series? Paul Jennings & Morris Gleitzman
In what year did Australia first host the Olympic Games? 1956
Who was known as "Thorpedo"? Ian Thorpe
What is the name of the stretch of water between Australia and Papua New Guinea named after a Spanish explorer? Torres Strait
Which Danish architect designed the Sydney Opera House? Joern Utzon

This week come with me to one of the many iconic rock formations that dot the Australian landscape and attract visitors from all over the world.

This particular landform has been formed by the effect of erosion from the constant harsh and extreme weather conditions that blast in off the Southern Ocean and eat away at the soft limestone cliffs of this part of the coastline. The waves, wind, rain and the salt sea air wore away the soft rock leaving amazing caves and arches, but when these eventually collapsed, large stacks of harder rock up to 50 metres high have been left standing like sentinels. And as the elements continue their attack over the centuries, more will form while others collapse.

I would have seen the evidence of this if I’d been here before January 15, 1990 when there was a formation known as London Bridge because it was like a bridge with two spans connected to the mainland, but it suddenly collapsed with the first span plunging into the ocean. I don’t know if it would have been fun or scary to be one of the two people left stranded on the outer part and having to be rescued by the police helicopter!

This is a really popular site for tourists as they drive along the Shipwreck Coast, known for the number of ships that have been wrecked here as captains hugged the coastline as they entered the mouth of Bass Strait. Although only about 240 wrecks have been discovered, it’s estimated that there are 700 scattered along this coast! The most famous of these is the Loch Ard with 52 of its 54 passengers perishing, and the story of the survivors Eva Carmichael and Tom Pearce being a fascinating one, in itself. When I get home, I’m going to find and read Gary Crew’s book The Story of Eva Carmichael: The Wreck of the Loch Ard so I can learn more.

But I’m here at sunset because that’s the best time to view these formations as the setting western sun turns the limestone a hundred hues of red, orange and yellow. If I’m lucky, I may even see some Little Penguins returning to their burrows. And because it’s winter I’m also looking out for passing Southern Right Whales and Humpback Whales on their migration north.

Where am I? Twelve Apostles, Victoria

A printable version of this quiz is available here.