The iconic - and divisive - Aussie legend has been in production for 100 years. (Or out if you're one of those people who can't stand it.)
The iconic (and no matter which side of the debate you fall, you can't deny its status as a slightly tarnished Aussie icon) spread was born from a desire to make an Australian equivalent to the British Marmite, and was at various times up against (and sometimes using) such marketing gems of names like Promite, MightyMite, AussieMite, OzEmite - and my personal favourite but most regrettable, Parwill.
In 1922 Fred Walker directed Cyril Callister to come up with the Australian version of Marmite and Callister did it by autolysing spent beer brewer's yeast. A competition was held to name the new product, and Fred's daughter Sheilah chose the name Vegemite out of the pool because the name Fred had chosen, "Pure Vegetable Extract" apparently failed to set hearts alight or even suggest that the product was similar to Marmite. It was for a while renamed to Parwill (Ma might? But Pa will! a really silly schoolyard pun) but luckily the name was reverted to Vegemite or we'd have a whole new level of cringeworthiness to deal with.
Stop. Whoa. Dundee Time.
I'd like you to reflect for a moment on the collected Australiana in that paragraph above. A really crappy Dad joke pun, a guy named Fred, another guy named Cyril, a sheila named Sheilah, beer waste turned to yet another beer product. Young Einstein eat your heart out. You're toast. Lastly, notice that it's the 100 year anniversary of that name, a century. And in cricket (Yay for Aussie cricket) a century is a score to be proud of. You get the Crocodile Dundee / Paul Hogan reference for free.
Good News Week
In Australia there was a TV weekly comedy/news show called Good News Week. It was a success, it was Aussie larrikinism at its best, and it included this segment of video that for me, cemeneted Vegemite as our most iconic icon ever. If you're eager to just see that iconinc minute and a bit of TV skip to 3:15 in the timeline, but I reckon you should just enjoy the plot developing. Reg Hunter's comment pretty much sums it up. Every audience member knew that jingle. You just don't get more Aussie or iconic than that.
So say "Happy Century Vegemite!" It's had a pretty checkered innings but it's still there and not out.
And A Sad Departure:
Another Aussie iconic product, Fantales, sadly however won't be marking a 100th year, with manufacturer Allen's ending production earlier this year in July after a still-respectable 93 years of delighting children's tastebuds and curiosities about the stars of the world.
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