Happy Birthday Australia!!

Well, it's January 26 here in Australia (I know some parts of the world haven't quite caught up with us yet! Tee! Hee! Hee!) and that means that it's

AUSTRALIA   DAY!

When you scratch the surface, most of us are pretty patriotic ... especially if our national sporting teams are competing! :0) But Australia Day is a day where we particularly take a little bit of time to think about what it means to be an Aussie and how very blessed we are to live in a land of beauty and opportunity, a land of helping your mates, a land of  'have-a-go' and 'she'll-be-right-mate' attitudes.

As part of Australia Day celebrations around the nation, awards are given at federal, state and local levels to recognise the contribution that people make to help their fellow Aussies. Well ... today in the little country town of Mundubbera, a very special lady's contribution to HER community was recognised ... yep ... MY MUM received a Certificate of Appreciation for her contribution to the cultural life of the town of Mundubbera. :0) I would have loved to have been on hand to see her reaction, but I had a chat to Dad to get the lowdown.

Apparently, they started to read out the various ways in which the award recipient contributes to her local community ... volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, the local visitor information centre, the art gallery and Driver Reviver. At this point Mum commented to Dad, "Gee, they do a lot of the things that I do." The announcer went on to add that 'this person' also volunteers to read the local paper onto tape for the sight-impaired, helps organise regular singing mornings at the local hospital, makes meals for new mums or folks going through tough times ... she still hadn't twigged that it was her!! ... this person also helps at many community events and co-ordinates the collection and packing of hundreds of shoe boxes every year as part of the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child. FINALLY at this point, Mum turned to Dad and said, "That's me!" Dad grinned and said, "Yep." She apparently gave him a poke in the ribs and said, "Did you know about this?" He replied, "Yep." (A man of few words, my Dad! Tee! Hee! Hee!) It was at this point that Mum turned to him and said, "You bugger!!" Tee! Hee! Hee! It's not often Dad gets one over Mum, so I think he decided it was worth the poked ribs! :0)

I am so very proud of my Mum ... even without the special award. Cos when they were handing out her certificate, I bet they didn't include things like ... she was always there for my brother and me when we came home from school to give us afternoon tea and listen to our day's adventures, she supported us in whatever endeavours we undertook, encouraging us to be the best we could be, to work hard and dream big. Together with Dad, she provided a stable, loving ... slightly loony!! ... home for me to grow up in, somewhere where I know I will always be accepted and loved ... along with any friends and strays I may bring home with me! :0) I guess this Australia Day award really just confirms what I've known all along ... My Mum is FABULOUS!!!! :0) Congratulations Mum ... I love you heaps!!

Here's a group photo of all the award winners. Congratulations to all! Without the efforts, contribution and flat out HARD WORK of every-day Aussies, our communities would be much less than what they are. Oh ... and I just have to mention, too, that the overall Australian Of The Year award went to a boy from Toowoomba ... Geoffrey Rush! Go Queensland!!! :0)

So ... I hope you've all had a great day, whether you're overseas and it was 'business as usual' or if you're in some part of Australia celebrating what it means to be an Aussie. :0) Til next time ...

AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!!

BEAR HUGS!

CHEERS!
KRIS