• Have a happy and safe Australia Day •

[lisa jones]

Don't over do it.

It doesn't have to be like Christmas Day

Just enjoy the day off and reflect on how lucky we are to be in the best country in the world.

Sure we have problems but who doesn't?

I might be European blooded but I thank God for the fact that both my parents left war torn devastated Europe in the 60's (yep even then Europe was still trying to find its feet as land mines were left behind and large slabs of country areas were off limits to farmers etc) AND they came to Australia.

Some of my aunts and uncles went to the USA and the UK. They eventually returned to Europe. Those who migrated to Australia STAYED here. Why? It was truly a land of hope and opportunity.

I guess I'm influenced by everything my wog parents used to say to me as I was growing up about Australia and how God was merciful to allow them to come here under assisted passage pathways. One thing which had a profound impact was their attitude of gratitude.

So today we will celebrate Australia Day with that attitude of gratitude here. Cheers everyone

[sprintcyclist]

I agree entirely.

Aussie is always in the top 10 places to live.

Have a great day, we went for a swim down the beach this morning.
Met some friends, had a few coffees.

[Trevor P]

I concur...

Nice to have you back Lisa.

[sprintcyclist]

Australia, 'stralia, 'stralia

[sprintcyclist]

One of my poems inspired by Australia



Away from the Thin Rim


We journey away from the Thin Rim.
Away from the rivers with water, greenery and crops.
Away from people.

Headed inwards, upwards. It is not inviting.
There are no crops, roadworks show the way, rocky hills surround us.
It is not inviting. A silence asks if we want to continue.

Already the changes emerge. Australian greens.
Tough Gums, dry creeks. Trucks with RooBars.
Roadkill gives us another reminder of this world.
The changes continue as we take up the challenge.

Most vehicles are RoadTrains. Most cars are Toyotas.
Sarah stops her dry creek comments.
Charter Buses return mine workers back to the city.
We forge onward, inward and westward.

Mesas stand sentry. Windmills are stationary.
Stations are named. Distances are given to the next fuel.
The skies open out before us, Angel stretches her legs and breathes freely.
Classically, the drought is bad. The extra water is a good weight to carry.

We miss the turnoff by 30 kms, then come back.
Creek crossings, rough gravel roads
Angel gets more rattling in 40 kms than she had in her first 200,000.

Then just like Banjo Patterson promised us ‘...And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their kindly voices greet him. In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its bars….’
Australian Bustards, Echidnas, Sweet faced Wallabies and Brolgas.

For I am what Dorothea Mackellar was ‘…..I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains, of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons …….’