Bourth (X) (asker) Jun 20, 2011:

Thanks for the input, all. No points awarded since the answer to my question appears to be "No, there is no such Aussie expression", which means everybody who didn't come up with the answer deserves the points! Miranda gets the Special Mention of the Jury, however. For the record, I went with "In other words, cobber, 'A kookaburra in the hand might be worth a flock of emus waiting in the bush!' ", which I like to think is rather less naff than the French. I realize I've turned the proverb on its head, but that's Australia for you!

Bourth (X) (asker) Jun 20, 2011:

@Miranda Kangaroos are already taken! The article starts with "It's not just 'roos making leaps and bounds in Australia, the country is also home to XXX's largest profit centre."
Agree about the (mal-t-à-propos) "intellectual" metaphor, but wasn't prepared to dismiss it as such without putting the question here, just in case the writer was trying to evoke a DownUnder expression.

B D Finch Jun 15, 2011:

@rkillings The kiss of death effect could also spread to France. There are proposals to replant the Landes with eucalyptus because of climate change, causing low rainfall in recent years, and the need to replant following last year's forest fires.

rkillings Jun 14, 2011:

Keep the literal reference at your peril Here in California (and, I've noticed, in Portugal as well), mention of a eucalyptus forest in connection with projects could be the kiss of death. These trees are regarded as a noxious invasive species with enormous detrimental effects on native flora and fauna, a fire hazard and an inferior lumber resource at that.

Lara Barnett Jun 14, 2011:

There are literally projects growing on trees (or on the vine), if the koalas keep their fingers crossed for us.

Mike Birch Jun 14, 2011:

Just having fun... There are opportunities growing on eucalyptus trees, but the koalas won't lay you golden eggs.

Lara Barnett Jun 14, 2011:

Growing on trees As per my added suggestion in my note:
http://hunch.net/?p=275

Miranda Joubioux (X) Jun 14, 2011:

LOL I fear however that you're not getting the whole of the point across, with that interpretation though!
You're best sticking to basics IMO, unless you can make some sort of comparison with the profusion of kangaroos in the country or some such... Sometimes the French just like to complicate things by using "intellectual" metaphors!

philgoddard Jun 14, 2011:

I don't think you should bother finding a fancy translation for this - it's an odd choice of imagery that doesn't really work - hence the "NDLR".

Bourth (X) (asker) Jun 14, 2011:

@Phil "Virgin territory" is another good angle (but since they have a distinctively Aussi ref. in the French I'd like to have something Ocker in the English too). The person "speaking" is the dreaded journalist type, concluding a paragraph in the company's in-house magazine.

philgoddard Jun 14, 2011:

I still don't really understand the context - who is speaking for example, and where - but you could say "much of the country is still virgin territory as far as big civil engineering projects are concerned."

Bourth (X) (asker) Jun 14, 2011:

@Miranda I think you may have inadvertantly given me a solution to my problem, if not an answer to my question, with your reference to the bush, Miranda. I could distance myself somewhat from the French and say "So why worry about having a bird (project/contract) in the hand when there are so many out there in the bush just waiting to be bagged, cobber!"

Bourth (X) (asker) Jun 14, 2011:

Precisely, Miranda. It's just that it strikes me as a very heavy-handed way of going about it, with gum trees and koala requiring an editor's note to explain the analogy. Which is why I thought there might be an Aussie expression, taken up in the French but requiring explanation for the French reader (and others, as it happens!).

Miranda Joubioux (X) Jun 14, 2011:

Isn't this just a round-about way of saying that there's no scarcity of projects in Australia ? Perhaps, you shouldn't go beating about the bush, if you'll excuse the pun!

B D Finch Jun 14, 2011:

Some thoughts As I'm sure you're aware, eucalyptus trees require little water, smell quite nice and clear blocked noses (particularly when mixed with menthol), all look much the same, are no good for anything except shade and grow like weeds. Would any of the above be relevant?

Stephanie Ezrol Jun 14, 2011:

Here's one thought:

end up a gum tree: Stymied, stranded.
http://goaustralia.about.com/cs/language/a/strinee.htm