Last year I had the pleasure of joining Dave and his family at a rather unique Anzac Day gathering in the middle of brigalow scrub on the banks of a billabong some 20 minutes from Dave’s farm.
To paint a picture: There were four of us, Dave, myself and two guys on tourist working visas whom ironically were (from vague memory) from Germany. After a morning of mustering and drafting we spruced up in an odd smelling shower of bore water. We then headed off through the scrub followed by a billowing cloud of dust from the unsealed road. Just on dusk we turn off the main road to enter the bush proper, following a winding track were trees had right of way. Just when all signs of civilisation seemed lost, we arrived at bustling car park newly created among the trees.
What we had arrived at was an annual gathering of the families from surrounding farms and stations, celebrating Anzac Day in a unique and very traditional country fashion. The women folk provided a delicious banquet of country fare while the men folk created a BBQ only beef producers can. During the course of the evening many groups formed and dissolved as farmers caught up with each other for the first time in weeks or maybe the previous year’s gathering. I remember hearing many tall tales and simple stories of the struggles of out back farm life, drought, floods and fires – all the more poignant by the matter of fact telling.
A hush fell as a single piper played as we remember those who fell or survived those horrific wars defending a way of life we enjoy today.
Its incredible isn't that it can hurt so much, the freedom of letting go of something that has come to mean so much. I rose this morning like most mornings as the sun is thinking about making its daily lumbering across the sky, Piccaninny daylight is what the old stock man call it, its the time you either stuff about or get most things done for the day. Today I stuffed about, I made a cup of coffee, and another, I re-heated some off sausages I found in the fridge and coated them in American mustard to hide their truth, I tried to distract myself with a book on Egyptian Pyramid Building and a DVD on Alexander the Great, but I couldn't shake the sense of failure of whoring out my dream to the highest bidder.
I had the best Australia Day.... experienced the Joy of New Australians at an early Morning Citizenship Ceremony, Then was filled with Pride at the Official Ceremony at Southbank when Australians Joined together as one to Honour our Combined Effort that has produced a shining beacon of Democracy, Tolerance and Inclusion.
I had the best time ever at Tamworth Country Music Festival....FYI....Country Music Stars are Younger, Browner, Blonder and Hotter than most things in a FHM Magzine...and boy can they sing like Angels,
Got off the plane from Aurukun decided to go into Cairns for a Few Beers before getting on a plane South....after sinking just one and feeling tipsy....Saw a ridiculously hot guy at a Dive shop...next thing I know I'm on a Week Long Dive Certification Trip.
