Us Ozzies…
Posted on August 13, 2007 - Filed Under General
Us Ozzies are quite a smart bunch.
I bet that most of you didn’t know that some of the world’s greatest inventions were made by some very smart people from ‘Down Under’.
1906: Feature Film
The Story of the Kelly Gang was the world’s first feature length film.
1918: Anthrax Vaccine
John McGarvie Smith donated his secret discovery of an anthrax vaccine to the NSW Government shortly before his death.
1922 Vegemite - One of the world’s richest sources of vitamin B, vegemite was invented by Dr. Cyril P. Callister. It is made by the autolysis of expired brewer’s yeast: a process where the yeast’s own enzymes break it down. And thank goodness it was, I couldn’t imagine my toast without VEGEMITE!
1926: Heart Pacemaker
A doctor from the Crown Street Women’s Hospital in Sydney, who wished to remain anonymous, invented the original pacemaker in Australia.
1953: Solar Water Heater
The first prototype of a solar water heater was developed at CSIRO in Victoria.
1958: Black Box Flight Recorder
Dr David Warren in Melbourne invented the first black box flight memory recorder. The unit recorded the pilot’s voice and a few instrument readings.
1961: Ultrasound
George Kossoff and David Robinson built the first ultrasound scanner at the ultrasonics institute in the Commonwealth Department of Health. So next time you are pregnant and go to have a scan, you can give thanks to these Aussie blokes.
1964: Latex Gloves
The Ansell company had made household gloves since 1925. In 1964 they introduced the disposable latex gloves for use in surgery.
1965: Inflatable Aircraft Escape Slide
Jack Grant of Qantas invented the inflatable aircraft escape slide which can also be used as a raft on water. These slides are now standard safety equipment on all major airlines. Lets hope we never have to give thanks for this invention, but it sure is good to know it’s there if we need it!
1973: In-vitro Fertilisation
The world’s first pregnancy using IVF technology was reported from Monash Medical Centre. I for one are very thankful for the great work done by this medical centre, without it I would never have become a mother.
1979: Bionic Ear
The cochlear implant, designed to help the hearing impaired and profoundly deaf, was invented by Professor Graeme Clark of the University of Melbourne.
1982 The dual flush toilet - As dunnies have a celebrated status in Australia, it is apt that Australia has taken a central role in their evolution. In 1982, the dual flush toilet was responsible for savings in excess of 32000 litres of water per household a year. Pretty important in the world’s dries inhabited continent. Do you have one?
1990: Reading Machine for the Blind
Milan Hudecek of Melbourne invented the world’s first reading machine for the blind. What a fantastic invention, this must have opened a whole new world for the vision impaired.
1996: Relenza
The world’s first anti-influenza drug was developed by the Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University and Biota Holdings. In 2000, the drug was approved for release in Australia, Europe and the USA.
Ozzie..Ozzie…Ozzie..Oi…Oi…Oi!
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8 Responses to “Us Ozzies…”
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Huzzzah for the Ozzie! Thanks for your contributions! I’m sorry our (US) most recent contributions have been the ‘W’ and Dick Cheney….
Yep Agree Patric “Ozzie..Ozzie…Ozzie..Oi…Oi…Oi!”
Sorry Partic…I have to correct you..it makes me cringe LOL
We are Aussies, not Ozzie ostriches
Sorry Ozzie it is …in memory of my dearly departed dog Ozzie.
Besides I don’t like how the “S” sounds in auSSie….I would rather be an oZZie …sorry
On the behalf of nurses everywhere, I would like to thank the country of Australia for latex gloves. Truly. You wouldn’t believe the things that fabulous invention has saved me from touching.
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lol…I am sitting here eating Vegemite on toast. This is the second post in the Carnival to talk about black Australia - Vegemite.
How about that recent cervical cancer vaccine that we’ve created? That’s pretty cool too.
Thanks for joining the Carnival of Australia Mad Goat.
Gotta admit, that’s a pretty cool list :o)