Throughout the 20th century, riding the sheep’s back was a phrase every Australian knew. It referred to the wool industry as the source of Australia’s prosperity. People still say the words occasionally either as a nostalgic reference to simpler times or perhaps as the more general suggestion that Australia is still too dependent on agriculture at a time when it’s the clever countries that will win out in the new millennium.

I doubt if these kids ever heard the phrase, though they’re a perfect picture of it. Doubt if they ever heard the other colloquialism clever country either. Mining’s today’s sheep’s back!