The only thing Australians are swept up about at the moment is how irritating Turnbull's twelve word slogan has become. Here are 10 other occasions where, arguably, it was a more exciting time to be an Australian: 1. The gold rush The gold rush in full swing at the Black Hill Mine in Ballarat. The discovery of gold, glorious gold in Australian in the mid-1800s heralded multiple rushes to find the stuff. This brought hopeful immigrants to Australia and in turn, new skills and backgrounds to the fledgling colonies. The population increased from about 373,000 in 1849 to more than 2 million in 1878 (noting that convicts were still being shipped in over some of this time).

On top of that, people were finding gold! 2. Federation Tom Roberts' Credit:Tom Roberts In 1901, Australia became a nation. Previously, the continent had been governmentally comprised of six separate British colonies, who, confusingly, all had their own laws, stamps and rail systems. After a decade or so of meetings, there was finally agreement on a constitution for the land. Independence, here we come! 3. The end of both world wars

Men who were part of the Normandy landing celebrate in 1945. Credit:Argus Collection The end to two of the bloodiest conflicts the world had ever seen, and which would come to define white Australian identity, were greeted with impromptu parties, street parades and general celebration. Years of rationing, military service, the fear of invasion and telegrams informing families of their loved ones' deaths came to an end. 4. Television Kevin Owens at home with his HMV 1959-era black and white console model TV. Credit:Simone DePeak "Good evening and welcome to television" began the first broadcast of television in Australia on September 16, 1956 (colour television followed in 1975). Without that there would have been no Countdown, no Young Talent Time or Hey, Hey It's Saturday, no Neighbours, no reality cooking juggernauts and no Q&A.

5. The introduction of the pill The introduction of the pill in Australia heralded a new era for women's rights. Credit:Fiona Lee Quimby In 1961, Australia became the second country in the world to get access to the oral contraceptive pill, ushering in worry-free lovemaking on a scale never seen before. Not only did this give women's liberation and the sexual revolution a huge boost, it meant that people could give up on more dubious forms of contraception. Goodbye olive oil and ground beaver testicles. 6. The Beatles tour The Beatles wave to fans at the Melbourne Town Hall in 1964.

When the band arrived in Australia in 1964 for their first and only tour, they saw Beatlemania on a world-beating scale. As the Beatles performed around the country, they were met with thousands and thousands and THOUSANDS of screaming fans. It was basically two weeks where Australia screamed. In the process, this changed the country's attitudes to music and youth culture forever. 7. The election of the Whitlam government Gough Whitlam opens Labor's history-making election campaign. Popularised by the "It's Time" campaign Edward Gough Whitlam and the Labor Party swept to power in 1972 on a platform of free health care and education, equal rights for women, land rights for indigenous Australians and a suite of social changes that saw Australia throw off the conservative strictures of the post war period. 8. The end of conscription

A demonstration in Melbourne against National Service. One of the first acts of the Whitlam government meant young men no longer feared the lottery draw that committed those whose birth date was called to 18 months' military service. As the Vietnam War drew on, public opinion swung against conscription until finally, in 1972, it was over. 9. Winning the America's Cup Alan Bond and crew celebrate winning the 1983 Americas Cup. When the Australia II won the seventh, deciding race of the 1983 America's Cup, it ended the longest winning streak in sporting history. The New York Yacht Club had won the cup for the previous 132 years. There were dawn celebrations across Australia. Things were so exciting, Bob Hawke wore *that* "Australia" jacket and joyfully declared, "any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum".

10. The Sydney Olympics Australian Olympic athlete Cathy Freeman ignites the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics. Credit:Victoria Arocho Was there ever a more exciting place to be than Sydney's Olympic stadium on the night Catherine Freeman ran to glory in the 400 metres? Or in that same facility when the sky lit up with fireworks and the Games were pronounced open? Sydney was at its very best and even the trains ran on time for a shining fortnight in which Australians revelled in what they love best – sport. (See also the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and John Landy's performance.) Follow us on Twitter