Oz Day
I sit here at the computer today in my jeans and work shirt, dirt under my nails and sweat as my cologne… I guess it’s a little un-Australian to work on a public holiday, but that is really life on the land sometimes. Fine weather and an availability of manpower means we are getting some work done while we can!
It’s Australia Day today – and while I am always incredibly proud to be an Aussie, this year I feel something even deeper.
2011 is less than a month old and already Australians have demonstrated qualitities that completely humble and stun me. As most would know, Mother Nature has dished out quite a January to us – with a fury that none saw coming. We have struggled to keep our heads above the floodwaters, and we have lost almost 40 of our countrymen in the deluge. It has been a test of epic proportions for us all.
But have we whinged, whined or felt sorry for ourselves? No. I have watched in awe as people whose homes have been ruined have simply picked themselves up, dusted themselves off (or should I say, ‘wrung themselves out’) and cleaned up. And then looked around to see who else needed a hand. And those who were miraculously spared the deluge have been the first in line to volunteer in the enormous clean-up exercises. Those who read about it states away, hopped into cars and traveled enormous distances to put their shoulder to the task too. Incredible, inspiring stuff.
It seems to me that the unquantifiable character that is Australian has risen above it all.
Our Australians of the Year have also been officially named today.
Aussie of the Year – Simon McKeon (a man who turned his back on the big bucks to quietly make a serious difference)
Young Aussie of the Year – Jessica Watson (brave, confident and humble – a real little gem!)
Senior Aussie of the Year – Ron McCallum (an inspiring equal rights campaigner)
Local Hero – Don Ritchie ( a life-saver you really need to read about).
So while it is too early in the day for a chardy, I will tip my cup of tea to the official heroes in the list above, to the beer company who shouted hard-working flood volunteers a free slab, or the milk company giving away profits despite being hit by the disaster themselved, to the tens of thousands of Aussies who have shown patience and generosity and goodwill over the past three weeks.
You make me bloody proud.
From one who is humble to be able to stand amongst you all.
🙂
BB
12 Comments
Jayne
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.
Oi, Oi, Oi!
Jayne´s last blog post ..Happy Australia Day 2011
Sal
Anyone Aussie, would be struggling to top that BB. Absolutely well said. Ditto! More working than celebrating happening on this here farm too today, but hey, we’re alive, we’re Aussie and we live for it! Cheers, for when you have your Chardy in your hands!
Rhu
Yep, could not have said it any better myself. Well said, BB x
Colin (HB)
Beautifully written BB- you make me proud for being able to read your wonderful reports and especially the tribute you have placed on this VERY special day.
Thanks
Colin (HB)
“A proud member of the First Fleeter’s Society” – yet I go right back to those days.
Buttons
Happy Australian Day. Your country has been through a lot and pulled through together. That is great to see. B
Buttons´s last blog post ..Toil!
Nancy in Iowa
Happy Australia Day! You definitely have countrymen/women to be very proud of!
Catch the Kids
Just beautiful. Your words made me tear up. Bloody proud indeed!
Catch the Kids´s last blog post ..An Award!
Jenni in KS
Happy Australia Day! You do indeed have a lot to be proud of in your country and countrymen!
Saturday is Kansas Day, and this year is our sesquicentennial. (Did I spell that correctly???) In spite of a few yahoos, I think it’s a pretty okay state. May we all take a lesson from our brothers and sisters down under!
Jenni in KS´s last blog post ..When Love Is More Than You Think You Can Manage
Bush Babe
Hope you are blogging your Kansas Day Jen!!
debby
May the WORLD take a lesson from Oz…
debby´s last blog post ..Bull
Chip "Roket Man" Allen
Many here in the States have been comparing your floods to the devastation Hurricane Katrina visited upon our Gulf Coast a little over 5 years ago, only on a much greater scale. What strikes me is the way Aussies have reacted to this crisis. For months we heard Katrina survivors complaining about the government not reacting fast enough or not helping them out. The Aussies I’ve seen interviewed on out news networks and BBC tell about what they’re thankful for still having, not crying about what they’ve lost.
Chip “Roket Man” Allen´s last blog post ..Snow Day
Bush Babe
That’s so interesting Chip… I know how WE view it all here (from the ‘inside’, kind of) but to see how it has been reported elsewhere is something else again…
You know, Aussies are like anyone else in that we hurt and complain when the stuff hits the rotors. But I think we really don’t tolerate whingers too well, so as a society we tend to get a grip on ourselves and get on with it. It’s just expected.
Worth a total sociology study, don’t you agree?
🙂
BB