- Boxing Kangaroo
:"For the film of the same name see
Das Boxende Känguruh ."The boxing kangaroo is a
national personification ofAustralia , frequently seen in popular culture.The image of the boxing
kangaroo "Jack" is known since1891 . Fifty years later it became a national symbol in theRoyal Australian Air Force . The design was inspired by a travelling boxing show which had kangaroos boxing with men. During 1941 boxing kangaroos were stencilled on Australian fighter aeroplanes of theNo. 21 Squadron RAAF based inSingapore and Malaya.The boxing kangaroo was the symbol for the successful 1983 Australian challenge for the
America's Cup . The Boxing Kangarooflag , a red-gloved goldenkangaroo on a green background, was flown from "Australia II ". Alan Bond (owner of the Australia II yacht) owned the image and licensed it for mass production.The image was bought by the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Olympic Team carried a boxing kangaroo toy at the Opening ceremony of the
2000 Sydney Olympics . The mascot was also used by the 2004 Australian Olympic team.The symbol is often displayed prominently at Australian sporting matches, for example
Cricket Early history of the Boxing kangaroo
* A cartoon titled "Jack, the fighting Kangaroo with Professor Lendermann" appeared in 1891. [http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/lhr/21.3/images/golder_fig1b.jpg]
* The German silent movie "Das Boxende Känguruh ", directed byMax Skladanowsky , first presented in Berlin, on November 1st 1895, featured a boxing kangaroo. [ [http://www.filmportal.de/df/89/Uebersicht,,,,,,,,EA43D4A6E7645006E03053D50B37753D,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,.html filmportal.de ] ]
* The silent movie "The Boxing Kangaroo" (1920), directed byDave Fleischer , animated byMax Fleischer andRoland Crandall , was released in the United States.References
External links
* [http://www.auspost.com.au/philatelic/stamps/bk/history.htm Australia Post: stamp history of Boxing Kangaroo character]
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/23/1090464860217.html July 2004 article in The Age on the use of the symbol for 2004 Australian Olympic Team]
* [http://www.news.com.au/ttn/flags.html article stating the flag's designer was an airman]
* [http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/organisation/info_on/units/21_sqn/history.htm Australian airforce - history of no. 21 squadron]* [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-flags/boxing-roo.htm DiggerHistory.info] - Australian military history
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