'Waltzing Matilda' is very close to Australians who grew up hearing the song. It's not the national anthem, but in a sense it is a kind of folk anthem. It is being sung at special ceremonies, like tournaments, footbal or rugby matches, often in a place of a national anthem. This little tune is of special significance to Australians. They sing 'Advance Australia Fair', the official national anthem, with pride, but 'Waltzing Matilda' will forever live in their hearts.

"Whenever and wherever Australians gather to celebrate, Waltzing Matilda is there. 'Matilda' has marched Australians into battle and marched them home again, celebrated sporting victories, echoed around school room walls and walked Prime Ministers into office. It always just seemed to be there, one cannot remember having ever learnt the song but we all knew it and would always sing-a-long."

(quoted after Dennis O'Keeffe, http://www.waltzingmatilda.com/wmdennis.html)