In Dorothy McKellar's iconic poem she says - 'I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains, of rugged mountain ranges and droughts and flooding rains'. Droughts and flooding rains couldn't be more true when it was written than the past couple of month's events. Most of Australia has been in a drought for 5-10 years or more and especially where I live, we have had Stage 4 Water Restrictions for the past 5 years - that means: no washing or hosing windows; cars; lawns; etc. Garden beds can only be watered by 'hand only' and then on certain days of the week and only for 2 hours.
Over the past 6 months or so most of Australia has had more rain than our dams and rivers can handle so hence the devastating floods in the Eastern half Australia.
You ask - 'with droughts, floods, bush fires, some of the most poisonous spiders and snakes in the world, sharks and stingers in your oceans - what is it like to live in Australia?'
Bloody beautiful! We have a strong feeling of mateship that comes from some of the above situations/disasters. We dig-in and help our neighbours. I believe we are tolerant and accepting of all people and we welcome newcomers to this land with open arms. It is because of these newcomers (I don't like the word immigrant) that we have a wonderful multi-cultural society and all that brings to a country.
I wouldn't live anywhere else.
...Joy
1 comment:
Lovely post, Joy:)
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