Clive James, Barry Humphries, Germaine Greer; all came to England from Australia in the 60’s and immediately tore up the rule book.
In Britain they had found a country receptive to challenge and change, ready to fully embrace their subversive talents. With a particularly Australian brand of ‘can do’ spirit, they transformed broadcasting, academia, feminism, writing and performance. They were a counter-cultural force that helped re-shape their adoptive home.
As the writer Howard Jacobson put it: ‘Once here, there was never a sense they were anywhere but where they should be’.
Then, a second wave of Australian arrivals – this time in the realm of music…
Watching the excellent Netflix documentary on Kylie Minogue, you get a sense that her most impactful and enduring relationship is her friendship with another great Australian singer Nick Cave. It brought to my mind Oscar Wilde’s famous quote about friendship:
‘Friendship is far more tragic than love. It lasts longer’.
Returning to the stage, after her battle with breast cancer, Glastonbury 2019 was all about their duet ‘Where the Wild Roses Grow’. As a big fan of both, I love this moment… A great observation made in the comments: ‘Better to wave with roses than with smartphones.’
