New Australian enjoys community passion for national day

OPINION

Aussie, Aussie, Pommie, oi, oi, oi!

I think it is rather fitting that my first article as the Pom in Aus coincides with our recent celebration of Australia Day.

What a perfect opportunity to highlight some of the quirks and idiosyncrasies I have experienced in my 10 years on this great Southern Land.

I was asked this year if we ever had something similar in the UK to Australia Day?

The truth is, no not really, certainly nothing that elicits such passion, (no, not always positive) from its countrymen and women.

The closet we have is St Georges day I guess, but as a Pom in the motherland you could easily be completely ignorant of the day’s passing, with only the hardcore paying it any attention.

We have our royal weddings, Olympic opening ceremonies and the occasional jubilee, but nothing to rival the flag waving, snag eating and thong wearing that we experience here in good old Geraldton.

Yes, Australia Day does divide some, (I won’t go into that or express my private opinions) but as a relative stranger to these lands, the community spirit and mateship of the day never ceases to amaze me.

Everyone would have a differing opinion on what it means to be True Blue Aussie, but for me on Australia Day, Christmas Day or any other day, it’s pretty simple.

Community, doing stuff the hard way because it’s worth it, helping out your brother when he’s fallen on hard times, rallying around when your neighbours and our wildlife are going through the worse time imaginable.

While not unique, Australia has this behaviour and attitude in spades — and my family and I can’t get enough of the Aussie spirit.