Aussie Aussie oddies

THE first Ashes Test may be over and done with, but our historic rivalry with the Aussies isn't going anywhere.

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They've been copying the English for 200 years - right down to our traditional eccentrics. It's fair to say Oz has produced some quirky characters, probably inspired by the terrifying weather and wildlife.

HERE MEG JORSH reveals a few of the most memorable...

Bard to the bone: Beatrice 'Bee' Miles was a familiar sight on the streets of Sydney from the 1940s to 1960s. Usually carrying a bag of books, she could recite any passage from Shakespeare for a shilling or two. Bee, below, was famous for leaping into taxis and demanding to be driven around for free - sometimes ripping off the cab door if the driver refused.