'Australian' enough to be a hero?

Australia Day is one of the primary times when people make the pledge of commitment, becoming Australian citizens during a citizenship ceremony. It may also be one of the only times when people consider their concept of national identity – their Australianness. The resource book that potential citizens use to prepare for the citizenship test claims that “sport has both characterised the Australian people and united us”, citing the heroic figure of the cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. Heroes embody the values and norms of a particular society and athletes continue to be considered heroic. However, an examination of Bradman and other heroes, reveals much about the nation’s identity and who is accepted as “Australian”