Love it or hate it, it is in my opinion one of our defining points.

I was sitting on a bench in front of the supermarket when the security guy was walking passed and smiled at me, his brilliant white teeth a stark contrast to his ebony skin.

"G'day", I said. He cautiously approached and said hello.

If you have never listened to another talk, I mean listened, with an open mind and heart, then you will never be as lucky as I was tonight.

In the 15-20 short minutes I heard of a young African boy who had for as long as could remember, had been minding cattle, guarding them from hungry lions. Not only had he never been to school, but the language of his people had no word for it.

Knowledge was disseminated from parent to child, brother to brother, elders to youngsters. Laws were not written but ingrained into their culture, their tribes and there families.

Honor was so important that death was preferable to dishonor.

I heard of wars and crime and how this young African had to flee, how he had to leave his family behind.

I heard of life in refugee camps, of the moving, mixing of cultures, tribes and races. I heard how this your African cattle herder, now 13 years old, attended a school within the refugee camp.

I heard how during his years in the refugee system he met a young woman, they fell in love and married.

I heard that how after a succession of processes and countries this young African cattle herder came to stand guard at Coles in Mt Druitt.

I suppose he is still today watching over the cattle as they amble past him to feed, still standing guard from the predators.

What a pity more of us don't reach out and say: G'day, how you goin, maybe it would be a better planet if we do.

Wybong.

Again you give us a gift.

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to this young man and then to transmit to us the story.

I'm reminded of a tale I once heard about an African dignitary being taken, while visiting Britain, on a tour of one of the better schools. I believe he uttered words to this effect:
"But why are these children shut away in these buildings - they are just at the age when they should be learning something".

Thanks Wybong. Beautiful post. Brought tears.

You have prompted me to pick up my act and get out there and greet people, open up, be more friendly, start conversations, etc.

Cheers

Yes, excellent post Wybong. I've had similar experiences with Sudanese refugees here in the little country town where I live. While there were some language problems, the simple act of saying "G'day" to someone often begins the process of cross-cultural understanding, not to mention improving migrants' English skills.

And as you say, they often have fascinating - indeed, heart-wrenching - tales to tell. I often think that if more ordinary Aussies were aware of refugees' stories, particularly told firsthand, there'd be a lot less antipathy towards them.

Cheers, and welcome to OLO.

Thanks Wybong. You have unwittingly called me to account. When people say to me, "How ya going." I answer, "On foot." They sometimes look puzzled, but that response generally prevents further conversation. Next time, I will try to engage the other.

lol I said that once and ended up getting married, a bit extreme I know. But I did learn they are the same as everyone else warts and all so feel less inclined to put them on a pedestal. Just the same.

Thanks Wybong and thank you Australia for giving this young man an opportunity that not many nations would.

Thank you all for such a positive approach, I suppose I have yet to be found by the group of pro-am knockers.

Poirot, Ludwig, CJ Morgan et all

If you all close your eyes and imagine, you can see this young cattle herder as a youth, we have exploited the image enough.

He left me with the impression that this is the outcome that was his surrogate destiny. I walked away feeling a sadness of sorts. Most would say how lucky he was, he has access to all we have to offer.

I suppose I have a different imagination than others, for I can see a world where the young African Cattle Herder should have been able to live in peace and where his access to food, shelter, medicine and education were exactly on par with all his peers globally regardless of race, religion or culture.

To have enabled him to have been able to have lived as he chose, to have the choice to live in his ancestral home as his people have since the dawn of time. To have given him the knowledge and ability to access the things that we take for granted. To have worked with his people to allow them to grow and develop their nation with all due homage to all reasonable traditions. Then he would have been lucky.

They are however fortunate, fortunate that there is enough people that care enough to make enough people feel guilty enough to help them.

Hey, working at a supermarket in Mt Druitt definitely takes second place to standing on the African plains with breezes washing across the ancient land whispering voices from ancient times.

Wybong,

I could not agree more with your sentiments about the African cattle herder.
His flight to the relative safety of a western nation would have been one of desperation - war and famine take their toll on ancient cultures.

I too felt a twinge of sadness that he was working at a supermarket - clocking on and off - forever having lost the opportunity to learn and pass on knowledge and skills through the links in his ancestral chain. It's a different kind of freedom than the one defined by western culture.

Westerners tend to pity any culture that lives so closely aligned with the earth and its seasons. As you pointed out, the scents on the breeze flowing through an African savanna must surely be more pleasurable than the cloistered confines of a shopping centre.

P.S. I think the knockers may be somewhat startled by the wisdom and gravity of your words.

Dear Wybong,

You did a gracious act by making this man feel
welcome. Thank You for sharing the experience
with us on OLO.

I'm sure that no matter what problems he faced
in his own country - obviously he chose to
come to Australia for a reason.

The reasons
for leaving one's home country are usually
driven by a compulsion or a necessity.

The fact remains - you made him feel welcome and gave
him the opportunity to talk and share with you
the proud tradition that cattle herding is south
of the Sahara.

I'm sure that he with the help of people like you will
find his own sense of belonging. He will be able to
change his life and the lives of his family for the
better. With time he will grow into his new society
like many others who came before him from somewhere
else from a variety of countries and backgrounds.
Each with their own stories, and the ups and
downs of adapting to life in Australia. His experience
provided you with a window on the experience of leaving
one home in order to create another.

"Our fathers toiled for bitter bread
While idlers thrived beside them;
But food to eat and clothes to wear
Their native land denied them.
They left their native land in spite
Of royalties' regalia,
And so they came, or if they stole
Were sent out to Australia."
(Henry Lawson).

Wybong, You said

"Hey, working at a supermarket in Mt Druitt definitely takes second place to standing on the African plains with breezes washing across the ancient land whispering voices from ancient times".

It was nice of you to engage a stranger in conversation, which would be less comon than in my local area. However I see you have the concept of 'the noble savage' and are a romantic. But a bit of reality and practicality must prevail.

What about the dirt, dust, flies and lack of hygene that kills many. What about diseases and lack of medical attention. Unfortunately the smell of the bush is often that of death and pain. It is impossible to provide good medical and education facilities to people in remote areas. What about famine and people starving.

I wonder how many of his siblings and friends survive today, or if his mother and his sisters had to endure FGM.

He is indeed lucky that we gave him the opportunity of a better life than those left in his country. His young wife can now have her babies in clean and safe surroundings, with good medical care. The kids vacinated against disease and get a good education.

I just bet he knows he is on a better wicket here, even without the smell of the savanna or the whispers of his forebears.

Banjo: you wrote "What about the dirt, dust, flies and lack of hygene that kills many. What about diseases and lack of medical attention."

Now are you talking about Africans in Africa or Australians in Australia.

For the first 20 years of my life I lived in rural NSW and that could describe many many places within our own country.

Now as is my usual habbit, I follow a number of other threads of my commentators to help me gaugue who they are.

Of you I see an underlying "Descent Bloke", and I mean that in the real Aussie "Country" way.

I spent many years of my political adolensence as an avid National Party (then Country Party) supporter. I inherited my ideals from my father and grandfather and I am pleased to say that I still hold those ideals firmly and adomently defend them. I am now however, strongly leaning towards the Greens and Labor.

I will however at any possible opportunity try to research the independents at every opportunity. I have this problem supporting people that can only vote "as their conscience dictates, if ALLOWED to by their parties"

What happened:

I am reminded of an incedent when I was young. My grandfather saw an add in the paper for a tractor, it was fairly cheap so we enquired. It apparently, they said, not been started for some time. So armed with the trusty can of Aerostart we headed of.

The owner took as deep into his property and we came across the tractor, slightly off the side of the tracj and with it's wheels deeply inbedded in mud.

Looks like he never quite got it back to the shed I thought. Looking more closely I noticed that the trach actually bent slightly to allow easy passage around the tractor.

Puzzled my grandfather asked what happened. "Oh it got stuck in the mud a few years back, and I haven't got around to getting it out." he replied.

Sorry banjo, I will continue.

Your quotes from previous threads are in a similar vein to the one you said to me. Example:
This quote: http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3319#78854

"There is no proof of CO2 causing temperatures to rise and in fact the natural proportion of CO2 is many, many times that produced by human activity. (I've forgotten the propotions)"

This statement and ones like it are the biggest problem to common reason. Why: It says nothing, it takes snippets of information and generalises and it specifies nothing. Please then show me the argument.

"There is no proof of CO2 causing temperatures to rise and ... "
Is this that a chamber containing a vacuum does not increase in temperature if CO2 is added or are we talking of the atmosphere.

CO2 is one of the main gases that enables our planet to maintain the constant and very tiny range neede to maintain life on this planet.

The second part is absolutely true, and if your assumption was correctly expanded, well the tractor would be out of the mud.

A similar example is easier for us to understand as it is common knowlege.

The human temperature range is 36.8±0.7 °C, or 98.2±1.3 °F, plus or minus 0.7 °C hmmm not much tollerance.

Now a few bacteria added to the system and quickly the temperature can be caused to raise a few degrees, but 3 or 4 can bring sudden death.

So does the statement:

the natural temperature range of the human body (proportion of CO2) is many, many times that produced by bacterial (human) activity.

Mean that you think we shouldn't be using antibiotics?

So saying, if they don't come here and live by our "Christian" standards, they are worse off

Maybe when the droughts strike we should just give up the land eh. Dust and flies and more dust.
Why dont they come to the city then?

Why does Banjo take the flies, lack of hygiene etc in Africa as a given? Why does he not see it as something that can be changed? Why cannot Africans live with dignity and prosperity? Why should they be forced to flee their homes in terror and sadness? I wonder if Wybong's new friend would prefer a good life in Africa to his job at Mt Druitt?
I find it disturbing that we can pat ourselves on the back for taking this guy in while ignoring the fact that we did nothing to stop the horrendous situation that forced him to flee.

Good on you Wybong for making an effort.

mikk: Fix the problem, Oh you radical thinkers.

Exactly, a lot of these countries, they have as much, if not more resources than we have. Higher rainfall, more arible lands etc. What they don't have is oil or other fossil fuels, and are of little startegic value so therefore would not interest the US.

What they do have is highly unstable and sometimes criminal and currupt governments, well more unstable and more corupt then us.

Fixing the problems there, so they can live in their ancestral homes, and where they can learn and adapt to change in a way that suits them, their needs and their culture is a much better way then to bring them here and "Europenise" them.

Most of the third worlds problems are a legacy from early colonial rule. "We came, We saw, We took what We wanted, We left, We forgot"

Facts: Unless we can convince EVERY nation to reduce there net population growth to zero, one day, there will be no room for all of us to even find enough room to stand.

Who were those farmers taht brought rabits and foxes to Australia, to hunt wasn't it. This shows what happens when population growth is NOT considered.

In my very selfish, self centred opinion, it is far far better for me to raise the worlds living standard by 1% across the board, then it is to raise mine alone (or Australia's even) by 5%. Why, because I can enjoy my 1% more, without fear of averice and with a guilt free conscience.

We are a smart animal, we CAN fix ALL the problems in the world.

I commenced my career as a farmer on my family farm. I remember once standing along side 2 empty semis, facing about 500 bales of hay, the temperature was around 90°F and was expected to top 105. My father climbed onto the trailer, signaled the driver to commence, looked ot my grandfather and I and said.

"It's not gunna get loaded, by standing here lookin at it"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/opinion/07kristof.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted=print

may be of interest regarding this discussion. It is a third world country whose people are happy where they are.

From that URL:

Costa Rica is one of the very few countries to have abolished its army, and it’s also arguably the happiest nation on earth.

There are several ways of measuring happiness in countries, all inexact, but this pearl of Central America does stunningly well by whatever system is used. For example, the World Database of Happiness, compiled by a Dutch sociologist on the basis of answers to surveys by Gallup and others, lists Costa Rica in the top spot out of 148 nations.

That’s because Costa Ricans, asked to rate their own happiness on a 10-point scale, average 8.5. Denmark is next at 8.3, the United States ranks 20th at 7.4 and Togo and Tanzania bring up the caboose at 2.6.

Scholars also calculate happiness by determining “happy life years.” This figure results from merging average self-reported happiness, as above, with life expectancy. Using this system, Costa Rica again easily tops the list. The United States is 19th, and Zimbabwe comes in last.

A third approach is the “happy planet index,” devised by the New Economics Foundation, a liberal think tank. This combines happiness and longevity but adjusts for environmental impact — such as the carbon that countries spew.

Here again, Costa Rica wins the day, for achieving contentment and longevity in an environmentally sustainable way. The Dominican Republic ranks second, the United States 114th (because of its huge ecological footprint) and Zimbabwe is last.

Maybe Costa Rican contentment has something to do with the chance to explore dazzling beaches on both sides of the country, when one isn’t admiring the sloths in the jungle (sloths truly are slothful, I discovered; they are the tortoises of the trees). Costa Rica has done an unusually good job preserving nature, and it’s surely easier to be happy while basking in sunshine and greenery than while shivering up north and suffering “nature deficit disorder.”

Wybong,
You certainly jump from one thing to another. I do not see what an old bogged tractor has to do with your new found friend at Mt Druitt, or how CO2 and political parties are involved. So I will disregard most and refer only to how the African lad is much better off here than in Africa.

I was right that you are a romantic and am somewhat surprised given your rural background. Us rural types usually take a more practical view of things.

I was refering to the living conditions for a tribal herdsman in Africa. Even without civil war, it has never been an easy life. living in less than weather proof huts, on dirt floors, no fridges and cooking on open fires. Sounds idilic at first glance, watching over a few scrawnny cows and driving the odd stray back to the mob. But they are the family assetts and some people drain blood regularly from them to drink, as to get the protein. If one beast is injured or maimed by predator, it will die from infection and that is a big loss.

I spent much of my young days in western NSW, so I know about heat, flies and dust. But at least we had weatherproof huts and clean water and a stove to cook on. Proper beds and transport to town if needed.

Little wonder the mortality rate is high for Africans what with the living conditions and AIDS. How can we provide reasonable education and medical facilities for these Africans. We do not seem to be able to provide sufficient for our own aboriginal communities. The UN cannot stop the civil wars let alone tackle famines in Africa.

Your new found friend is definately far better off here and if he gets really homesick he can go back, but my bet is that he will stay.

mikk,
You need a reality check if you think we can solve all Africas problems.

Reality is made by humans. If we wanted to, if we cared we could easily provide at least the basics to every single person on this planet.

That greed, self interest and indifference allows the waste, gluttony and luxury to flourish in the west while other countries full of people go hungry is shameful and a damning indictment of humanity. We are not civilised.

When millions of man hours worth of work go into a rich mans yacht or mansion while others live exposed or hungry it makes us all guilty and responsible for the system that perpetuates such injustice.

Are we all people or not? Do some people deserve more than others? This is what you are stating when you say it is not "realistic" or "not your problem". Your surrender to the supposed inevitability of African poverty is a moral cop out and reminds me of the statements made 200 years ago about aborigines and letting(wanting) them die out.

Poor Banjo, you just don't seem to get the point.
mikk et al certainly do, my references were not to global warming, but to your use of sweeping statements which say nothing.

I agree with you 100%, you are right, correct. He is better off physically, but what about spiritually. What about our heritage, here I am not talking about our rural heritage, our national heritage, but our human heritage.

From a purely capitalistic point of view it would great to have a completely homogeneous society that were confined to a small relatively stable demographic.

Apparently the banjo utopia would be to have all the third world peoples doing our menial tasks, well even a cleaners wage is preferable to having to hunt down your food, fish from the rivers and oceans, harvest the fruits of the forests and plains.

Sure we have superior medicine, but they can learn, they can come here and learn the good from our ways, then take them home to blend it to there own desires and needs.

The problem is if they are not being ruled by terrorist governments or exploited by western capitalists. They are too scared from the invasions, being enslaved and generally used and abused.

If mankind put 1/2 of the efforts that they put into war, greed, consumerism, nationalism and power into aiding the rest of mankind into attaining what is deemed to be a reasonable minimum standard of living, then the world would indeed be a happy place.

Many people seem to adhere to the western delusion of judging a person's quality of life purely on the merits of their material surroundings. We in the west have very little idea of the spiritual life of those who live in traditional societies, or of the psychological structure that forms their world view. This is why interference, as Wybong points out, from early colonial rule and, more recently, globalization have taken their toll so drastically on many who live a traditional way of life - not least Australia's own indigenous people.
E. F. Schumacher, in his book "Small Is Beautiful", wrote:
"There are, moreover, many features of the rich man's economy which are so questionable in themselves and, in any case, so inappropriate for poor communities that successful adaptation of the people to these features would spell ruin. If the nature of the change is such that nothing is left for the fathers to teach their sons, or for the sons to accept from their fathers, family life collapses. The life, work and happiness of all societies depends on certain "psychological structures" which are highly vulnerable. Social cohesion, mutual respect, and above all self-respect, courage in the face of adversity, and the ability to bear hardship - all this and much else disintegrates and disappears when these "psychological structures" are gravely damaged. A man is destroyed by the inner conviction of uselessness. No amount of economic growth can compensate for such losses...".
There is a reason why countries like Costa Rica and others like it, who are not economic titans have good feelings of well being - they have held on to autonomy and their traditional ways, and in doing so, have retained their sense of meaning and self-respect.

Lovely story Wybong, welcome. We often forget in our busy lives that the people we see in the street, in the shops, libraries, waiting in a queue and even at Coles may have an interesting story to tell.

G'day is free and yet the returns great.

With our focus so much on consumerism and material wealth we forget that people are not what they 'do'. One of the smartest woman and most interesting woman I ever met was a shop assistant in a canteen. Every day we would exchange pleasantries and when I got to know her better our conversations would become more poltical and philosphical until one day she told me more about her life. What a woman. She had lived and worked for Aid organisations for many years, lived on a commune and worked a permaculture farm until retiring. As it turned out she was a volunteer and gave her time for free.

I can't remember it all but there was a nice story that did the rounds a while back - it went along the lines of .. a humble farmer who lived in a cottage by the sea met a man who said come to America, work hard and long, make a good living and then one day you will have your own house by the sea. The old man said but I already have that now.

Sometimes we forget that success or wealth is defined very much within a Western Capitalist perspective. Happiness and contentment does not always come with our version of success or material wealth. The GFC has at least made us wake up and question our values and obsession with economic imperatives over all other.

<Honor was so important that death was preferable to dishonor.>
Ahhh. The noble savage.
Sounds impressive until you realise that this is the basis for honour killings.

Wybong,
I get the point all right. You were projecting a romantisied view of the life of a an African tribal herdsman. I put some reality into that by mentioning some other aspects of the lifestyle.

You talk about his spiritually,yet I know that a closeness to his land or forebears will not save a dieing wife or cure a child in pain. Being spiritual does not put food on the table during fammine.
I see, too often, videos of how their honour and dignity disipates when fighting to get the food handed out during fammines.

There is far more likelyhood of his wife bearing healthy kids at Mt Druitt, and the kids reaching adulthood, than there is on the plains of Africa. His family are less likely to die of fammine at Mt.Druitt.

He is lucky to be here and there are opportunities to better himself if he wants.

I do not dream of an utopia. People simply have to make the best of what is available. But far too many in our society have an unrealistic view of life in a tribal situation

Banjo, I am afraid you are a lost cause, your inability to analyse anything perplex me.
Your sweeping statements show your unwillingness to examine the underlying facts.

In 2 replies I had stated that you used incredibly wide sweeping unsubstantiated statements to prove a point.

You previously replied to my criticism that you use unsubstantiated sweeping statements was:

"I was right that you are a romantic and am somewhat surprised given your rural background. Us rural types usually take a more practical view of things."
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3349#79718

I one foul swoop you have divided us into non romantic but practice people, implying therefore that city people are romantic and impracticable. So having been insulted and on behalf of all the romantics in the country (hundreds of famous artists, poets, singers and songwriters) I say thanks.

I am not going to point out the errors of your statements and mindset as it will only change when you are willing to take a deep inspection of your motivation.

mikk on the other hand is a lateral thinker, he said:

"Reality is made by humans. If we wanted to, if we cared we could easily provide at least the basics to every single person on this planet."

also a sweeping statement, the difference is, he proceeds to explain it.

Having said that, I will turn to HermanYutic http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3349#79778

"Sounds impressive until you realise that this is the basis for honour killings."

Honour killings go on daily in our own society with all our christian values, just ask any homicide detective.

Another question: How many people do we calculate to have killed or exterminated, tortured or imprisoned, vilified or discriminated against in the name of Christianity. Note, the use of scientific notation will be acceptable in your answer.

Don't look at both sides of the coin, look at the edges too, the borders, the marks and scratches, for in mint condition they all look the same, it's the imperfections, the scars of time that tell the story.

I am not stupid enough to say their way is better, nor arrogant enough to say ours is.

Dear Wybong,

What a breath of fresh air you are
on this Forum.

I simply loved your last post and the
coin reference - so beautifully
put! I'm going to copy and keep it
if you don't mind.

Please keep on posting - it's so
enjoyable reading someone's thoughts
of your insight and intelligence.

Wybong,
Yes, I am a lost cause and a pragmatic. I do not see the lifestyle of Africian herdsmen through rose coloured glasses. If it comes to the well being of my wife and kids, I would chose a menial job at a surburban shopping centre any day.

I reckon everyone should spend some time camping out and roughing it as it makes one appreciate our home far more.

You and mikk both quoted this line below.
"Reality is made by humans. If we wanted to, if we cared we could easily provide at least the basics to every single person on this planet."

The basics of what? You already seem to think the herdsman has it better than an urbanite. Food, education, medicine, You both are dreaming! That would ruin his spirituality.

Oh, I noticed you used the word 'easily'.

We cannot even lift the standard of living for remote communities here, in Aus, let alone raise the living standards for the billion or so Africians. That is the reality that has to be faced.

I understand that the population of Africa has doubled in the last 50 years. That needs addressing by education in birth control. Iran acheived a dramatic reduction in birth numbers, which shows it can be done. That is the practical approach.

If you think that is just another sweeping statement then google Iran + birth control.

Banjo wrote;

"I understand that the population of Africa has doubled in the last 50 years. That needs addressing by education in birth control. Iran acheived a dramatic reduction in birth numbers, which shows it can be done. That is the practical approach."

Dear Banjo,

Iran has done a terrific job in that area with a fertility rate less than that of the US.

However, much of the increasing African population is a consequence of interference in the underdeveloped world by external religious and cultural influences.

Bougainville, an island of Papua New Guinea, has had a great population increase since the area has been subject to European influence. Before European influence the population remained fairly constant due to the fact that Bougainvilleans routinely used abortificients found in nature to keep their population at a sustainable level. Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist and other missionaries have succeeded in persuading the Bougainvilleans that the use of abortificients is a sin. I assume missionaries have done the same in Africa.

Another example is among the Aborigines in Australia. Before European influence the population remained fairly constant due to the fact that many Aboriginal people had developed a method of birth control. It involved the process of drilling a hole from the outside of the penis to base of the canal. When conception was desired a finger placed over the hole was effective. Missionaries also succeeded in getting the Aborigines to regard the practice as sinful.

At the Cairo Population Conference some advocated easier access to abortion and better access to education for girls. Representatives of the Catholic Church got together with Muslim clergy to oppose both initiatives. Abortion is ok with Muslims, and female education is ok with Catholics, but to make an alliance they opposed both. Perhaps Iran is different since they are not Sunni Muslims.

By eliminating restrictions on the birth rate and decreasing the death rate by medication and other means the non-African world is largely responsible for increasing African population.

Education in birth control is desirable. One must fight religious interference to get it

davidf,
Agreed, reliions have much to answer for. Over population is the worlds biggest problem IMO.

Some Islamic fundys do a lot to keep the population in check. Their methods leave much to be desired though. Not keen on the methods of Hitler, Starlin or Mao either. Birth control seems better.

So, Banjo - how many African refugees have you said g'day to lately, or ever?

Thank you all, I feel that those who'll grow have grown, those that won't won't.
One last word, isn't banjo a romantic, nic:
Andrew Barton "Banjo' Paterson (1864-1941). Poet, ballad writer, journalist and horseman.

'Banjo' Paterson, known as Barty to his family, was born Andrew Barton Paterson at Narrambla, near Orange on 17 February 1864. His parents, Andrew Bogle and Rose Isabella Paterson were graziers on Illalong station in the Yass district.

Paterson's early education took place at home under a governess and then at the bush school in Binalong, the nearest township. From about the age of ten years he attended the Sydney Grammar School. He lived with his grandmother in Gladesville and spent the school holidays at Illalong station with his family.

So poor old Banjo wasn't the romantic bush poet we thought, instead a practical man.

Six years in the Australian Army and many many pig and fox hunting trips, I think I can remember sleeping in the bush during something!

By the way, pigs, foxes, rabbits and cactus were brought to Australia by practical English country gentlemen, thanks fellas.

And the practical Aussie farmers have done a great job stopping all that wasted water from flowing down the Darling River (to mention just one), do you know paddle steamers once went as far as Bourke?