We have a Centenary of Federation event every year here celebrating the day when Australia became its own nation, it is also known here as the "Birth of a nation".
WW1 was the chance when teh Australian Troops had a chance have proving the motherland that they could fight on there own without help from Britain, we did prve it with the spirit of the ANZAC's at Gallipoli and Africa.
In ww1 the Australian troops were also granted the right (after much pushiing by our governemnt) to have all the Australian forces under Australian officers and NCO's, thus making Australia commpletely independant, to make her own discisions and to run not only her country but her armed forces as she saw fit, of course still under the supreme command od the British.
If you are really interested, here is a site dedicated to the Centenary of Federation
Federation Story