The world’s largest island, we have golden sandy beaches and landscapes offering everything from lush rainforests to mountains and deserts.

As we celebrate Australia Day on January 26, there is so much to recognise and appreciate about being an Australian.

From the east to west coast, an aeroplane flight will take you under five hours to arrive. Driving around the coastline without stopping will take a fortnight on average to complete by car.

Our animals and wildlife are unique to our continent and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. This includes koalas, kangaroos, wombats, the platypus and echidnas. Flora unique to Australia include the eucalyptus tree.

Australia is the only place in the world that you will still find a lung fish from the Triassic period 350 million years ago.

We have our own slang and lingo; phrases such as “fair dinkum”, “bloody oath, mate”, “full as a goog”, “chockers”, “g’day” and “ooroo”.

We know what smoko is and we eat sangas. Most of us will admit to “chucking a sickie” and catching up after not seeing someone for “yonks”.

We refuel at the servo, pay rego and buy grog from the bottlo. We wear thongs (of two varieties), reg grundies, budgies and cossies, and chuck bags in the boot; then throw snags on the barbie, spray to keep the mozzies away and crack a slab of tinnies; and drive Dattos, utes and Combies.

You can be employed as a chippy, brickie or journo; a muso, truckie or ambo; a copper, sparky or tradie, while mates rates are “sweet as”.

We are “blokes” and “sheilas”, I’m proud to say. These are the things I will treasure this national Australia Day.