Forget Kidman and Blanchett – Gillard is the real Sheila

As an Australian working in London, I am often the butt of any bad cricket jokes, and convict-related jibes. But I am not usually mocked for my accent or vocabulary (oh yes you are – Ed).

Perhaps it is because I don’t sound like Julia Gillard. Why then is her accent so different from mine?

‘Cringe with embarrassment’

Ms Gillard is of course Australia’s first female prime minister. And although she was born in Britain (Barry in Wales to be exact), she has certainly lost all traces of the Queen’s English. While her broad nasal twang has endeared her to many Australians (and international leaders it seems), it has polarised others who cringe with embarrassment when they hear her begin to speak.

Her childhood was spent in Adelaide, where the Australian accent is less harsh, vowels are spoken more softly, and you’ll hear people talk about “school”, not “skewl”. Not quite the Queen’s English, but Adelaide people will definitely make an effort to point out that they do not speak like those living on the east coast in cities like Sydney and Brisbane.

But somehow Ms Gillard’s accent today reflects nothing of her heritage. Adelaide people cringe at the sound of it, and wonder where on the barren highway between the city of churches and Melbourne their prime minister picked up her east coast twang.

Someone advised her to connect more to the people who regard themselves as “troyly Austrayen”.

Perhaps it was when someone advised her to connect more to the people who regard themselves as “troyly Austrayen”. From a political point of view, there are far more voters on the east coast where Australian icons such as Crocodile Dundee come from.

Tony Blair, mate

What some may not know is that Adelaide can lay claim to another prime minister – Tony Blair. He lived in the South Australian capital for several years as a young boy. During his time as Britain’s leader, he too was observed to adapt his public school accent to have a more common touch when required.

Most recently he’s been heard to have a mid-Atlantic accent … a true chameleon like Australian actors Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett perhaps, who are officially recognised as masters in the art of acquiring accents.

As an Australian, I am proud that we have a female prime minister. As an Adelaide girl, I am proud that this prime minister is from our own paddock. And now, as an Australian living abroad, I have to admit I would be slightly disappointed if this prime minister failed to live up to international expectation by delivering a nondescript Australian accent.

‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’

It may have been the endearing factor that led David Cameron to mention her in his Lord Mayor’s speech. Even President Obama couldn’t help but get in on the action on Thursday in Darwin.

“Aussie, Aussie, Aussie,” he chanted, in his own attempt at an Australian accent. “Oi, Oi, Oi,” Julia replied.