In recent decades, the distinctiveness of the English spoken in Australia has been recognized by the production of dictionaries and grammars of Australian English. Given the widely acknowledged recognition of the role played by Christianity in the colonizing of Australia by the British, and in the subsequent development of the nation, it is appropriate that the New Testament writings should also be available in Australian English. Under the Southern Cross is the first published translation of the complete New Testament from the Greek of the original into Australian English. Undertaken by Dr Richard Moore, who lectured in New Testament for some thirty years, it expresses in the everyday English used in Australia the twenty-seven writings making up our New Testaments. The translation is based on the Greek text prepared and distributed throughout the world by the Bible Societies.