Tampa
An election-winning policy initiated by the previous Howard Government. (see Children Overboard) As a vote-winner it was as effective as a previous Liberal Party policy, "No GST ever".
Tasmania
Australia's island state. Known as 'The Apple Isle' because, in keeping with current Education Policy, every child is worthy of some prize.
Taxes
As the saying goes, the only two inevitabilities in life are death and taxes. The science of medicine continues to work on removing the former inevitability. Wayne Swan is in charge of the latter.
Teddy Bear
A stuffed toy bear named after American President Teddy Roosevelt (1901 - 1909). Mine was called 'Percy'. The Australian Prime Minister in 1901 was Sir Edmund Barton, but I don't believe he had an Eddy Bear named after him.
Teeny-bopper
The term for a young teenager (aged 13 to 15) who conforms to the style of dress and music offered by role models like Britney Spears. It is important to try and understand this hormonally unpredictable demographic and nurture them gently because they are only a few years off being eligible to vote.
Telemark
Telemark is a county in Norway (very pretty, too!). It is also a term for using one ski to turn sharply while skiing or using a paddle to turn sharply while canoeing. While I have not tried skiing or canoeing, I do know what a skis and a kayak paddles look like!
Telemarketer
And whenever I hear that familiar Indian accent offering me a terrific deal on a mobile phone I take some delight in imagining a ski or paddle being inserted in his alimentary orifice, followed by a deft telemark.
Ten-Gallon Hat
A type of hat favoured by Texans and in the case of a recent Texan US President it was an excellent example of the adage, "putting a ten-gallon hat on a two-gallon head".
Thong
Australia's national footwear (also known as jandals or flip-flops). They receive special recognition on Australia Day around the country when thong-tossing competitions are held. A thong is also a term for a scanty female undergarment. I think the one worn by the lady dancing around the pole in Scores Gentleman's Club in New York may have been leather, but I promise, I left the establishment well before I could verify this. (see Flossing)
Three R's
The fundamentals of all education - Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. Not every Australian has mastered these basic skills. (see Tuckey, Wilson) Learning a second language (e.g. fluent Mandarin) should also be considered a desirable educational asset but should not be attempted before gaining a moderate grasp of one's first language. (see Tuckey, Wilson)
Three Wheeler
Yes, like many children growing up in rural Australia, I rode a bike to school.
Time Zone
There are 24 regions or divisions on the globe, each coinciding with one hour of time, originating at the observatory in Greenwich. And I enjoy them all.
TLC
The abbreviation for the Trades and Labour Council and for Tender Loving Care and that is probably the first and only time you will see the two terms in the one sentence.
To Die For
"Good evening from the WWEN Weather Centre!" ONK (Our Nicole Kidman) is brilliant as the aspiring television personality Suzanne Stone Maretto in this 1995 movie. It may have been a little over the top enlisting some teenagers to kill her husband but all she wanted was "a little attention". And you only have to ask, Nic, you only have to ask.
Trams
While trams are native to the Victorian public transport system, I heard someone refer to the Premier of New South Wales as a person who "wouldn't know if a tram was up him unless someone rang the bell". Curious.
Trot
While technically a gait between a walk and a run, this is a political term used to test public reaction to policy prior to implementation or winding back e.g. the 'trotting out' of Work Choices resulted in a bad 'trot' or 'run' in the opinion polls. Both 'trot' and 'run' in the plural sense are terms for diarrhoea.
True Blue
Hey True Blue, is it me or you
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo
Is it standin' by your mate, when he's in a fight
Or just Vegemite
True-ue-ue Blue, I'm a-asking you
These five important questions were posed by Australia's Poet Laureate, John Williamson, and the neatest correct answer submitted will win a pair of thongs (footwear, not funwear).
Tuckey, Wilson
Former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating referred to the Member for O'Connor as "a grub"... "a dog returning to its vomit"... and "a boxhead"... who was "flat out counting past ten"... And this still remains Labor Party policy.
Turd
Pardon any offence but I'm afraid this euphemism for excrement has become part of everyday language, particularly in reference to canine excrement, and I tell you, our Golden Retriever, Abby, knows how to decorate the lawn at The Lodge! Some novelty shops sell an item called 'Hilarious Trick Plastic Dog Turd' and I got hours of enjoyment (well, months actually) from one of these in my teens. Very realistic! Oh, and a 'turd' can also describe someone you don't like very much. (see above, below)
Turnbull, Malcolm
Malcolm Turnbull is the interim Opposition Leader and the Liberal Member for the seat of Wentworth. W.C. Wentworth was a debonair man-about-town in the early 1800s, extremely wealthy, on the must-invite list to Eastern suburbs parties and not backward in throwing lavish parties at his own mansion. Turnbull, being a traditionalist, is of course a debonair man-about-town, extremely wealthy, on the must-invite list to Eastern suburbs parties and not backward in throwing lavish parties at his own mansion.
Turtle-smuggler
An affectionate term for any male sporting a waistline of more than ample sufficiency. (see Hockey, Joe)
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T
Tampa
Tasmania
Taxes
Teddy Bear
Teeny-bopper
Telemark
Telemarketer
Ten-Gallon Hat
Thong
Three Rs
Three-wheeler
Time Zone
TLC
To Die For
Trams
Trot
True Blue
Tuckey, Wilson
Turd
Turnbull, Malcolm
Turtle-smuggler
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