Indigenous Australians

ABORIGINAL PROVERB, ABORIGINAL

We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home.

ABORIGINAL PROVERB, ABORIGINAL

BARKER, JIMMY – Muruwari Rain Song

Have you forgotten us?
We have not done any wrong.
There is nothing growing here,
it is all dust.
Everything is drying out;
when are you going to send rain?
Have you forgotten us?
If someone has done wrong to you,
it is not us.

BARKER, JIMMY - Muruwari Rain Song

BATES, DAISY MAY

The Australian native can withstand all the reverses of nature, fiendish droughts and sweeping floods, horrors of thirst and enforced starvation – but he cannot withstand civilisation.

BATES, DAISY MAY

BEHRENDT, LARISSA – on the community and government response to natural disasters and flooding that affected Australia J

Some have reflected that this heroism, this natural desire to pitch in to help others in need and the tenacity to come together to rebuild communities that has been seen in such abundance over the past few weeks was not so much Australian as inherent human traits. Whichever way these characteristics are viewed, they are attributes which are strong foundations for any society and ones that will enrich a community the more it is permeated by them. Pitching in to help, doing what you can for those who are suffering and worse off than you are, even those you don’t know, are values that would extend compassion, altruism and generosity towards all sectors suffering disadvantage.

BEHRENDT, LARISSA - on the community and government response to natural disasters and flooding that affected Australia J

BEHRENDT, LARISSA – on the community and government response to natural disasters and flooding that affected Australia J

Such displays of the Australian spirit engender pride, regardless of background, religion and political persuasion. They are unifying… This spirit of leadership should be reflected in our national symbols and one appropriate way to do that is by finally making the changes needed to make Australia a republic… A country’s history does not change because it takes a step forward, but its possibilities for the future do.

BEHRENDT, LARISSA - on the community and government response to natural disasters and flooding that affected Australia J

BEHRENDT, LARISSA – on the natural disasters and flooding that affected Queensland and other parts of Australia

It was humbling to see how ferocious our environment could still be, how powerless we could be against its force despite all our knowledge and technology. It is in the face of such devastation, such heartbreaking loss of life, such destruction of homes and livelihoods, that character is most strongly tested.

BEHRENDT, LARISSA - on the natural disasters and flooding that affected Queensland and other parts of Australia

BLAIR, WAYNE

You have to let go of the past to have a better future, and you do that through love and family.

BLAIR, WAYNE