how it started

Being Australian from the back of paper napkin

An Australian 'New World Symphony'

Beginning in 1994, in a Manhattan apartment on 40th Street between Second and Third Avenues, Being Australian founder, Doug Kirkpatrick, began imagining the sensation of hearing a powerful and moving symphonic orchestration of the Cowan version of Waltzing Matilda.

Over subsequent weeks and months, Doug made notes outlining a musical work that could become Australia's equivalent of Antonín Dvorák's Symphony of the New World became for Americans over 150 years ago. (He would later discuss the idea with three of Australia's top composers and obtain their endorsement for its production.)

But rather than settle for an Australian version of Dvorák's instrumental anthology, it seemed the music should somehow imitate Australia and Australianness reflected through everyday experiences people have that feel 'Australian'.

In this way, it seemed that music inspired by the reality of people's experiences would be more interesting and valuable than music that was somehow cliche, jingoistic or subservient to fashionable opinions about 'values' or 'national identity'.

Genesis of the film

Producing the music required a film with a similar objective. Producing such a film meant finding imagery to complement an original score.

At first, a combination of historic and contemporary footage was considered. But this approach seemed potentially jingoistic and fraught with risk over decisions about what to show and what to exclude in order to do justice to the brief. Also, it seemed it would end up being little more than another 'history lesson' of a type already done in different forms by others. So, the approach was abandoned.

Instead, it became clear that imagery about Australians today – a contemporary album of the time and diary for future generations - would be far more interesting.

It also made sense that the project involve people's personal reflections and sentiments, providing them with the opportunity to directly influence the imagery audiences might see and which would influence the orchestration.

Giving everyone a say in the outcome

With the decision made to allow people to 'play director' for the final production, a method had to be found to democratise their involvement in choosing the final imagery and music so that both might be received as the most authentic representation of their sentiments as possible.

Thankfully, the Internet matured since the concept first took shape in 1994 because it quickly became clear that a website would be essential for gathering both stories of people's experiences that feel Australian and ideas for ways submissions could shape production.

Additionally, it seemed a certain rule or guideline had to be applied to keep the ideas narrowed to a particular theme. So it was decided to invite people to simply share those random spontaneous moments when something they experience feels "Australian".

After all, a film built around people’s recollections of moments occuring naturally in 'Australian' contexts would seem to be the best way to distil collective feelings people have about being Australian.

So, this website was put together to gather impressions from Australians, visitors, and travellers alike and to engage their contribution of ideas as Being Australian sets about producing the music first imagined in a New York apartment.