Australia Day!

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea:
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare,
In history's page let every stage
Advance Australia fair,
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair.

When I was a kid, we sang this before starting our school day. For special assemblies, we sang the 'second' verse too. (The original version has five verses; the official version only two.) I'm guessing not many of our newest citizens know it because it's rarely belted out any more. But here it is:

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.

Sigh... makes an Aussie go all warm and fuzzy. By the end of the day, 13,000 people will be raising their glasses and celebrating their new citizenship.

It's all about celebrating who we are - whether indigenous or migrant - getting down to the white sandy beaches, throwing prawns, lamb or beef on the barbie or watching the cricket or tennis holding a cold one. It's the ferry races on Sydney Harbour, the Tall ships under full sails and sparkly fireworks. It's buying a beer for the bloke next to you, saying 'G'day' to a stranger and just being thankful you live here.

Whatever you're up to today, have a good one!