This morning before the National Anthem a young girl sang one of my favourite Australian songs, she sang it with such heart and passion that it was very moving and the crowd was utterly silent until the chorus when most joined it - I love the words, the tune and how most of us can relate to at least one or two lines of the song. So just to remind you, go on have a little sing-a-long to your self! Go on, you know the tune :)
I came from the dream time, from the dusty red soil plains,
I am the ancient heart - the keeper of the flame,
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come,
For forty thousand years I'd been the first Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.
I came upon the prison ship bound down by iron chains *(this is how my Great Grandfather arrived in Australia)
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.* (He was also freed after a time in Tasmania - and the rest is history, literally!)
I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.
I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, and I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian.
I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian.
We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.
.....and here are our little Australians!
And above my POMs on Australia Day January 26 - #26.
It was very warm and sunny, so slip slop slap was the order of the day!
As was breakfast of bacon eggs sausages tomato and toast - plus a bowl of fruit for good measure.
Steve tucked into a feed before he was on duty. He had absolutely no idea of the time. He was supposed to be on stage for presentations of Australia Day awards at 9am - we heard the Town Hall clock chime, Rori counted 8 and proudly said, "It's 8 O'Clock"! Steve just kept eating!!
He casually asked the time and when I said the clock had just run 9 bells, he was on his feet running too, to get changed and down to business!!!
He made it back in the nick of time, but without his chains - they were locked up somewhere! They did have to hold up proceedings long enough for CEO to make a run for the office and bring the chains - can't go on stage without the chains !!
And the awards began.....
I couldn't help but wonder, is this the last appearance as Mayor on Australia Day for Steve, it's both a sad and happy thought !
Just a few of those who gathered for breakfast and the presentations.
I love this place - our beautiful Cave Gardens - in the heart of our city :))
BRING THE CAROLS BACK TO THE CAVE GARDENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wait, just wait, keep waiting, wishing - and hoping!
The wash will have to do!
It's still fun...
...even for the Daddy!
On that pontoon is Allan, Steve, Jaime, Tulle & Rori !
Each time we drive past the pontoon the girls ask "When can we swim out there?" and I say "When there are lots of adults about to do it" and they say "We can swim out there, we've been swimming hundreds of laps at the pool, we can do" and I say "No Way Jose!"
....and besides there weren't enough noodles to go round! :)
