Blog Post #29 - more first impressions of Australia

It’s been a while since I touched base here.
A few things going on/down/up/off and creating the charts for our finale SOS show in November.
Yes….. more about that later.
Last night it was my privilege to go to the MSO’s tribute concert to our much missed Uncle Archie. So this morning I am pressed to share with you how Australia looked to me, fresh from the UK.
Look away from another difficult story coming up.
My 1983 sojourn in WA was relatively new when I found myself at a poolside brunch, discovering the joys of ham and cheese croissant, washed down with champagne. My UK life was looking very dull on that sparkling Sunday morning, rubbing shoulders with people my age (all coupled up, mind).
The crew looked very squeaky clean and glamorous in a lot of fresh white linen; buffed & tanned with shiny locks; all perfumed and after-shaved.
A couple of days before I had been to the WA museum. It’s something I always do in a new place to get the lie of the land a bit.
Asking about where I might find the Aboriginal exhibition; I had to ask because there were no signs that I could see; I was directed down some back stairs, round the corner and then some, to find a room about the size of a generous lounge room…….
It was paltry and tokenistic at best.
So, fresh from that experience, I was chatting to a young man, much traveled as 20 something Aussies were back in the day. He was well educated and articulate on all sorts and so it was to him I addressed my enquiry. “I haven’t been here long, but I’m a bit puzzled about Australia’s Aboriginal people. I mean, where are they?”
His handsome face sort of turned inside out with disgust and disdain. I’ve only seen that a few notable times in my life.
“Agh!” he said visibly cringing, and with his top lip sneering he said, “they are the ugliest creatures on the face of the earth. If you want to see them you’ll find them drunk as skunks under the trees in East Perth.”
I stepped away from him and left the gathering.
It’s was so shocking to me I could hardly breathe. I’m feeling exactly that now as I recall that awful
encounter.

I did go to East Perth as suggested. And wept as I drove away realising that there was something horribly wrong with this country. Something so heinous in its history that wasn’t going to be resolved anytime soon.
And here we are 40 years later.
How slowly we have traveled in our understanding that only now are we looking at this next step; one that will finally open up real conversations that have the potential to lead us forward at last.
“Ngapartji Ngapartji - Pitjantjatjara - to sit round the fire and tell stories and learn from each other.
Looking, praying and hoping for a deluge of YES to salve too many broken hearts and lives.
​Thank you, if you are still with me.
Love to all. Kxx

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