Changes

Even though church attendance remained low in post-World War II Australia, the majority of non-churchgoers nevertheless identified with a particular denomination and strongly supported Christianity as a bulwark of public morality. In the 1950s Adelaide, Brisbane and other major cities witnessed intensive, largely successful campaigns by the Catholic and various Protestant churches. The campaigns, culminating with that of the American evangelist [[Billy Graham]] in 1959, served to bolster religious observance and also to emphasize the role of Christianity as a moral force and the basis of a secure social order. As a result, church attendance and other indices of formal religious practice were on the increase by the later 1950s.<ref> David Hilliard, "Popular Religion in Australia in the 1950s: A Study of Adelaide and Brisbane." ''Journal of Religious History'' [Australia] 1988 15 (2): 219-235. </ref>

Even though church attendance remained low in post-World War II Australia, the majority of non-churchgoers nevertheless identified with a particular denomination and strongly supported Christianity as a bulwark of public morality. In the 1950s Adelaide, Brisbane and other major cities witnessed intensive, largely successful campaigns by the Catholic and various Protestant churches. The campaigns, culminating with that of the American evangelist [[Billy Graham]] in 1959, served to bolster religious observance and also to emphasize the role of Christianity as a moral force and the basis of a secure social order. As a result, church attendance and other indices of formal religious practice were on the increase by the later 1950s.<ref> David Hilliard, "Popular Religion in Australia in the 1950s: A Study of Adelaide and Brisbane." ''Journal of Religious History'' [Australia] 1988 15 (2): 219-235. </ref>

===Sports===

===Sports===

Sports are a matter of high visibility and prestige in Australia.  Sport has traditionally been seen as a vehicle for the expression of Australian nationalism. Following W. F. Mandle's work on cricket and nationalism, sporting contests between Australia and England have been portrayed as asserting Australian feelings of independence and hostility to Britain.  

Sports are a matter of high visibility and prestige in Australia.  Sport has traditionally been seen as a vehicle for the expression of Australian nationalism. Following W. F. Mandle's work on cricket and nationalism, sporting contests between Australia and England have been portrayed as asserting Australian feelings of independence and hostility to Britain. The game has a tradition of gentlemanly fair play and fellowship that has provided a template for behaviour, both on and off the playing field. From colonial times it has been a way to prove that local players, and by extension, the general population, were at least equal to their British counterparts.  

In Depression-era Australia, cricket became the nation's most popular sport and a unifying element for Protestant society. Radio broadcasts of test matches against English teams represented a technological leap forward and symbolized modernity's importance to the country. As broadcasters recreated the contests, from both Australia and England, the surrounding advertising, and the promotion of radio in general, marginalized women, reinforcing the image of cricket as a man's game, despite a considerable female following in the stands.<ref>Frazer Andrewes, "'They Play in Your Home': Cricket, Media and Modernity in Pre-War Australia," ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' 2000 17(2-3): 93-110  </ref>

In Depression-era Australia, cricket became the nation's most popular sport and a unifying element for Protestant society. Radio broadcasts of test matches against English teams represented a technological leap forward and symbolized modernity's importance to the country. As broadcasters recreated the contests, from both Australia and England, the surrounding advertising, and the promotion of radio in general, marginalized women, reinforcing the image of cricket as a man's game, despite a considerable female following in the stands.<ref>Frazer Andrewes, "'They Play in Your Home': Cricket, Media and Modernity in Pre-War Australia," ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' 2000 17(2-3): 93-110  </ref>

Rugby league football was predominantly working-class in composition, with close ties to the labor movement and the Irish Catholic community. Until the 1960s it was profoundly and proudly British. Violent confrontations between Australian and British teams on the football field did not translate into hostility to Britain or the empire off it. Australian sporting culture closely resembled that of the north of England, sharing a democratic self-image and hostility to social snobbery that enabled the sport to assert a form of imperial working-class Britishness.<ref> Tony Collins, "Australian Nationalism and Working-Class Britishness: The Case of Rugby League Football," ''History Compass'' 2005 3(Australasia and Pacific) </ref>  

Rugby league football was predominantly working-class in composition, with close ties to the labor movement and the Irish Catholic community. Until the 1960s it was profoundly and proudly British. Violent confrontations between Australian and British teams on the football field did not translate into hostility to Britain or the empire off it. Australian sporting culture closely resembled that of the north of England, sharing a democratic self-image and hostility to social snobbery that enabled the sport to assert a form of imperial working-class Britishness.<ref> Tony Collins, "Australian Nationalism and Working-Class Britishness: The Case of Rugby League Football," ''History Compass'' 2005 3(Australasia and Pacific) </ref>  

===World War II===

===World War II===

==Postwar==

==Postwar==

The postwar era was marked by an increased dependence on the United States, and an influx of European immigrants. By 1970 "White Australia" policies, were discarded and a large immigration arrived of middle class Asians, especially Chinese. A series of economic booms and recessions confronted the nation the challenge of surviving as an offshoot of European civilization in a largely Asian region and securing a prosperous future with declining support from European markets and investment.

The postwar era was marked by an increased dependence on the United States, and an influx of European immigrants. By 1970 "White Australia" policies, were discarded and a large immigration arrived of middle class Asians, especially Chinese. A series of economic booms and recessions confronted the nation the challenge of surviving as an offshoot of European civilization in a largely Asian region and securing a prosperous future with declining support from European markets and investment.

==Basic Bibliography==

==Basic Bibliography==