Been There Done That

21 Apr 2016

Andy Bell, John Waters, Simpsons, HRH, new $5, Anthem, Earth Day

Environment, Gay, History, Icons, Music, Pop Culture

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Andy Bell, John Waters, Simpsons, HRH, new $5, Anthem, Earth Day

This week we celebrate a couple of gay birthdays including Andy Bell–lead singer from Erasure and solo artist who has been HIV positive for 18 years; and Film director John Waters, of Hairspray fame, with his distinctive pencil moustache. In relation to him, Phil gives us a more detailed than usual recap of a Simpson’s episode–called Homer’s Phobia.

Also, a prominent personage having a milestone birthday this week on 21 April is HRH Queen Elizabeth ll despite the holiday being in June. This leads on to discussion about the royals including an anecdote about Prince Charles’ role in saving some precious Chippendale furniture. The new $5 note will be in circulation soon and there will be an engraving of HRH on it which many say is not representative of her face. For those with poor sight, the new note has some more vivid colours in it to distinguish it from others. It’s also braille sensitive.

On 19 April, 1984 Australia’s official National Anthem changed from God Save The Queen to Advance Australia Fair. Around the same time, the green and gold colours were proclaimed as Australia’s national colours.

We do have national pride but unfortunately we’re also ‘trashing’ our beautiful country’s environment. On 22 April, 1970 the first Earth Day was held in the US where attention was drawn to the degradation of the environment and the necessity to stop it.

Before we finish we note the birthdays of stars Shirley MacLaine and Barbra Streisand, both born on 24 April but 8 years apart.