8-)Well folks there I was, in a train with an Engineering lecturer and a PhD Student sitting in front of me. They were talking about the movement of flux in a magnetic field. After the lecturer left, the student was asked:
" Who has been the most effective and prominent Engineer in Australian history?"
" Oh, that bloke who went up as an Astronaut I suppose." was the answer.
"How about Sir John Monash mate?"
"Who?" was the reply.
"Oh, er, the bloke accepted as the greatest General of WW1, and who put the Victorian coalfields together.."
"How about the bloke who built the Harbour Bridge?He committed suicide just before both sides joined..and his work has stood the test of time.."
"No, I'm sorry.."
I didn't unsettle the bloke with mention of the Aboriginal mathematician who also developed the alloy head for the first helicopter motors, making helicopters possible, especially heavy lifting ones.
I couldn't embarras the bloke with talk of AWA and the very many crucial radio developements invented in Australia.
No wonder the Poms and Americans can put it over us.At least they are taught something of their History.