OT Oz and why it's called that

[Guest guest]

Best explanation for why Australia is called OZ is because when you

pronounce it, you say, " OZ-tralia " or at least that's what most folks

say. Even if you say OWS=stralia, it sounds like OZ. And let's face it,

it is " over the rainbow " , or perhaps UNDER the rainbow, being the land

" Down Under "

Initially populated by prisoners sent from England on one way trips.

Those who survived the trip in ships, were left to fend for themselves

and establish colonies. So rough and hardy stock survived and now it is

a matter of pride to say your first relation came over on a prison ship

(for something they didn't do, of course). One person bragged that her

great, great, great (however many) grandfather got shipped to Oz for

blowing up an outhouse. But he didn't do it.

Kind of like the DAR people here. Daughters of the American Revolution.

If you had a relative in the US in 1776, you are eligible to be a member

of the DAR. I think you probably have to be female as well. LOL. Or

the Hibernians, which is an Irish group whose membership is limited to

people whose mothers were born in Ireland. Does your mother come from

Ireland? is a famous song.

I'm the great grand daughter of a guy who fled Germany to avoid being

conscripted into the Kaiser's Army for WW I. I don't think we have a

group! Other than the DDD - descendents of draft dodgers.

Now, I'm curious, why is it call OZ? I knew it was Australia.