It was Australia Day

And how did I mark it? Not at all really. I guess that is possibly a good thing as some view the date and celebration skeptically as it marks, for the indigenous people of Australia, the invasion of their land. Some things may have changed a little and some processes put in place to rectify some of the injustices done to the Aboriginal people, perhaps it is a day for me to try to make a difference in some respect for them...if I knew what to do I would do it.

Perhaps the day is a good time to think about what it is to be Australian...apart from the accent. We are more than just a country where kangaroos bound ...and bound they did down the straight at the Hanging Rock race track.

 

A kangaroo runs its lone race at Hanging Rock. Photo: Michelle van Kampen

We are more than people in a country with unusual animals, the country is geographically isolated and with that not only have unusual animals and plants developed and remain but the country and its people are a unique blend of the ordinary and extraordinary.

Melbourne skyline

It is impossible to say that we are all the same but there is something relaxed about the people of Australia, the easiness and openness with which they greet you. There is also a fierce loyalty to our home/place demonstrated in a range of ways from loyalty, pride and defensiveness about our cities, our land, our flora and fauna, our footy teams, our football codes, our sporting prowess, our weather, our arts scene and our artists, our intellectuals, our writers and our society, for a country of 21 million it is amazing.

Wattle in Central Ave

 
Australia has a population of 20 600 000, the land area is 7686850 square kilometres- the population density is approximately 2.7 per square kilometre.
The USA has a population of 303 825 000, the land area is 9629091 square kilometres- the population density is approximately 31.6 per square kilometre.

A lousy photo of Geoffrey Rush in Melbourne

In comparing the size of the population and the achievements of Australians world wide we are indeed a  great country and one to celebrate on Australia Day.