Fear makes the world go around?

The answers on Earth are not easy to come by, especially when it comes to questions about the purpose of Life and ways to steer it. Why some people are born with all the options in life, with a silver spoon, in a rose garden, but are too blind to use them for their benefit while others have all the zest to do all the things in life to better themselves without any opportunities.

Assoc Prof Munjed Al Muderi

This topic of discussion came up the other day when the story of an Iraqi doctor, now Assoc. Prof. Munjed Al Muderis, who was given a new lease on life in Australia after running away from his birth country flashed in a newsfeed somewhere. Dr Muderis was an ambitious young doctor in an Iraqi University when the Republican Guard showed up and ordered him to mutilate his patients who happened to be Iraqi soldiers. Refusing to conform, as it was against the Hippocratic Oath, he finally had to make a dash out of the country and eventually ended up in Christmas Islands as just another refugee with another number on his arm amongst the many Mohameds and Alis. Long story short, after enduring the denigration of being just another face in the list of exiles, the host country finally gave the good Professor a break to showcase what he had to offer to mankind.

Iraq's loss is Australia's gain. Or is it? His story is overshadowed by many who have been abusing the system as well. The Australian pioneers or any immigrant of the yesteryears to any country which is now successful had toiled blood, sweat and tears to make hay for their future generation to have what they did not. And sacrifices must have been aplenty - natural calamities, man-made disasters, diseases, freak accident, etcetera. All these were endured in the game of progress and stability.

Amongst the many of so-called refugees are shit-stirrers, who were the masterminds or were instrumental in the collapse of the country that they originated. The visitors had all the chances to make something out of the area that was marked out as a nation for them to prosper and mind their own businesses. But instead, they chose the path of annihilation. What assurances are there that they would not do the same for to their new host? These are difficult questions.

Jay Lakhani - Theoretical physicist and
Speaker on Spiritual Humanism.
Advocates rational thinking into religion,
not blind faith.

On the other end, should we just turn a blind eye to the human sufferings and walk away with our noses stuck up in the air? Can we blame the victims as just undergoing effects of the bad karma as if the fact as we, in the midst of all these are not being 'tested' on our karma chart ratings? Should we be altruistic and embrace everyone in a good spirit, pray Kumbayah and be convinced that love will save the day? Many a time we have seen mouths biting the hands that fed them, slaves slaying their owners and visitors overstaying their welcome but rule over the well-intended hosts to impose their failed ideology.

Should we build fences to keep them away or mend the broken fences that have plagued mankind since antiquity? Is that even possible? It seems that fear is the one that is making the world go around with all its drama, not love. Suspicion, greed, destruction and violence seem to delve Man deep into their thinking faculties to come up with innovations, not brotherly love.

https://www.amnesty.org.au/from-refugee-to-pioneering-surgeon-munjed-al-muderis/

https://asok22.wixsite.com/real-lesson 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Memory, Conscience and Consciousness, bad for psyche?

Lion (2016)

In the process of evolutionary neural development, lifeforms initially developed a primitive neural structure. As the transmission of neural impulses increased by leaps and bounds, the nervous system slowly evolved to develop a brain, protecting information collecting interfaces from the central processing unit. When the impulses were overwhelming in terms of quantity, some of them were suppressed. This highly complicated mechanism eventually developed 'attention schema' and eventually consciousness. Memory, which is an important component of our brain function also helps to build consciousness and conscience!

This interplay has helped mankind to survive the many calamities of Nature, outlive many of their contemporaries and rule over many of the deathly beasts that roam the Earth. Unfortunately, it also acts as a double-edged sword. Memory which helps to avert danger, to repeat the same mistakes twice and to progress as a race, also gives traits like guilt, nostalgia (if it indeed a bad thing) and morbid longing for something which is not there! Memory can be a curse sometimes.

This is an emotionally charged Oscar nominee film is based on a true story of a 5-year-old 'dirt poor' (sic) Indian boy from the economically deprived part of interior India who, whilst scavenging for food and coin on trains, get separated from his brother. The 5-year-old, Saroo, lands in Calcutta confused, unable to converse in Bengali, not knowing his place of origin, keeping himself busy escaping clutches of hoodlums and even the arms of the law, at least initially. He eventually lands in an orphanage to be picked up for adoption by an Australian couple in Tasmania.
Everything was dandy till the time he was 25. His adoptive parents adopted another Indian boy and life went on. His adopted brother, however, had behavioural issues which plagued the whole family throughout.

At university, Saroo developed a sort of Indian consciousness after mixing with other students from the Indian sub-continent. His old thoughts, all so nicely tugged hidden in his subconscious mind slowly resurfaced. His obsession to reconnect with his Indian biological mother and brother reached fever pitch. He spent three good years with the aid of the then new kit of the block, Google Earth, to try to trace back his journey to Calcutta. This madness of his affected his relationships with his family and girlfriend. It finally led to an heart-wrenching meeting of a son with his mother after years of absence and the subsequent meetings of the real mothers, Australian and Indian and Saroo Brierly. After so many years, only then did Saroo knew that his given name is Sheru, affectionate for Sher, which meant 'Lion'!

Allz well

We can see that it is not a question of whether having a memory and a consciousness is good or bad. Having unerasable memory helped Saroo link up with his biological mother to give a closure to his unanswered queries and to the people in India too. Conscience, compassion and love allowed Saroo's Australian mother to adopt foreign children and even support Saroo's desire to reconnect with his roots. All these masalas of the thinking mind not able to forget as well as to fail to remember creates all the drama, mayhem and happy endings in this life of ours.

N.B. Interesting to note that the theme of family separating because of unavoidable circumstances, natural catastrophe or amnesia has been a regular feature of a well-tried formula in Indian movies. The happen endings usually come via a special family song recognised only by the family members (e.g. Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Naalai Namathe). Here, in keeping the times, it is Google Earth and the reemergence of repressed childhood memories!.

Lost in thin air?

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

Many Australian movies which dealt with mysteries of the nature have been hits at the box office. And this 1975 flick is one of them. We are advised to be outdoors but these unanswered questions tells us that there are many mysteries of Mother Nature lurk among us. The aboriginal cultures had a mutual respectful relationship with nature which unfortunately, modern thinking man tend to take for granted. The appreciation of the splendour and greatness of things on Earth is slowly on the decline evidenced by the resurfacing of many of its age old landscapes and pillage of its resources.

This Ozzie flick generated many interests over the years. It story was based on a 1967 book. Even though it is supposed to a fiction, it has become a source of many discussions and arguments on the possible explanation of the reported mysterious loss of the teenage school girls at a park on Valentines' Day of 1900.

The film starts with in a all girls boarding school. The shots in soft lens to the sounds of melodious soft flute music and giggly school girls caressing each others' hair reciting silly lovey-dovey poems may just be an opening scene of a B-grade soft porn but it is not but it just add on to the mystery of the unexplained disappearance of three school girls later in the story.

Somebody even researched and found that 14th February in 1900 was not Saturday as described but instead a Wednesday.

19 girls with 2 teachers went on a picnic to The Hanging Rock. Cooped in a regimental environment, the girls find liberation as they are transported in a carriage receiving catcalls and admirers. At he picnic site, 4 girls, with the permission of the teachers, went out to venture up the rocks. They never returned. Two boys who happened to be camping there are also somehow also get embroiled in their disappearance.

Extensive investigations and search parties never found them but one of the girls was later found alive but had absolutely no recollection of the turn of events.

In midst of all these, the headmistress also has her own issues with finances. One of the students who is an orphan has problems keeping up with the fees and in suspended.

This film, when shown in an international arena, had one director throw water over the screen to express his disappointment with the inconclusive and unconventional ending. Many questions are left unanswered which precisely got the people talking. Some even toyed the idea of alien abduction!

Over at our local level in the twenty first century, we are angered by desecration of our mountains by certain mischevious youthful acts of visitors. Even though, direct correlation between dastardly acts and natural catastrophe are laughable if one tries to, nevertheless, respect for the unknown is of paramount importance as Mother Nature has the bad habit of giving a smack on your head when you are cocky! Respect begets respect!

Should I stay or should I go?

Migrating to Australia, good meh?
Authors: Ken And Michael Soong.

In the typical conceited Malaysian fashion complacent with his comfort zone and would not lift his finger to help his helpless neighbour, most of my friends who saw the title of the book were quick and forthcoming with their unsolicited advice, went on a with unpunctuated liberal last words. "You don't need read a book to know that, come here, I'll tell you!" they said.

Sure, it is easy to go on a rant on the merits and demerits of migration, the push and pull factors, of political and economic refuge. Sure, our forefathers took the bold step of giving up they had, which is what they never had, as times were bad then. It was a question of whether staying for a saviour to turn up to save the day, to become a statistic or plunge into the pit of uncertainty. Those were different times with different needs. We have come a long way from living to survive to living to prosper.

This book, in my view, gives a balanced view of what a potential migrant should consider before deciding to bade adieu to to this tropical shores.
The Soongs urge their readers to consider a few pitfalls and potential headache areas. Are you willing to able to accept your offspring embracing the Western culture, giving up your ancestral tongue and cultures? Are you willing to be treated like how Malaysians look at their foreign workers? No matter how much can be said, racism is still part and parcel of humankind. When a citizen who is cushy with laid back lifestyle suddenly sees how the competitive immigrants grab all available opportunities, tempers are bound to be stirred. The 'rustbelt' schools with uninitiated students, facilities and fatigued teachers cannot be the reason for Malaysian to forgo everything they have here to experience the piece of the Australian pie. One has to be in the right neighbourhood to enjoy good schools, neighbours and piece of mind. Schoolyard bullying is a rampant problem down under. They go on giving survival tips to potential migrants to blend in to this welfare state system and even succeed in life. Many examples of successful migration stories are laid out.

At the end of the day, we should ask ourselves why do we want to give up everything that we have here and start all anew. If it is for the betterment of our young one, how can they be at peace and pave themselves along the right path when they see their elders go through hell on our daily basis to bring food on the table? Success and good life can be achieved anywhere if we put our mind and soul into it.

Should I stay or should I go - The Clash

Possessed by inner demons!

The Babadook (2014)

I do not particularly fancy horror flicks. The usual senseless gore, blood and scream does not turn me on. I have to admit, however, that one of the best horror film that scared the hell of me was 'Blair Witch Project' (1999). I decided this one a watch as it was said to a cerebral one. I did not know Australians also ventured into horror movies!

Even though at first glance, it just looks like another effort to scare the wits of its viewers with poor lightings and high decibel screams. Look deeper and you realise that it screams of symbolism. Symbolism of the stresses of life, of loss, hardship of sailing the sea of life despite of its drags. Like they say, the show has to go on!

Amelia, a widow with a young boy of 6, leads a mundane lonely life with a few friends with an equally depressing job of nurse in a geriatric ward. The son, Samuel, has a vivid imagination and imaginary friend, can sometimes be destructive and a spoilt brat. He talks about a character from a pop-up story book - The Babadook. (Don't know who would approve such a scary book for children bed time reading?)

Slowly, Babadook manifests as a poltergeist like character who terrorises the occupants of the house, i.e Amelia and Samuel. Amelia becomes possessed, unkempt, uncaring of her soon and even at one instance resorted to kill her offspring.

The real story is that Amelia's husband died enroute to hospital as he was sending a labouring Amelia to hospital. Her grief all the while was suppressed but as bringing up Samuel single handedly proved too difficult, she plunged into the dark shadows of depression and hatred towards what she perceived as the cause of loss of her place of support and personal gratification. She kept going in and out of being 'possessed', denoting that she was fighting the disease. At the end of the day, she fought her 'inner demons' and locked it in the cellar and looked forward to brighter days with her son. (Symbolically signifying successfully fighting the depressive illness). Looks like the filmmakers are thinking of a sequel to this one!

In War, all loses!

Water Diviner (2014)
I remember that the Gallipoli campaign was one which carried a high mortality but somehow almost all involved in it came out heroes, or at least they were made to think. The Australians and New Zealanders began their nationalistic pride here as a nation and still commemorate their landing through ANZAC day and glorify their dead in their monuments. The Sikhs are proud to have died valiantly defending the Queen and their colonial masters. The Turks held their heads high to have successfully kept the Allied Forces at bay. It was also the ground in which a certain soldier who later modernised Turkey - Kamal Ataturk. As Sun Tze said many years earlier, "In war, they are no winners, only losers."
Even Winston Churchill whose strategy fell flat here, leading to meaningless deaths here, blossomed to lead the nation to fight another world war to come out smelling of roses and be immortalised as a true statesman.

Recently, the star of this movie, Russell Crowe gave an incisive interview to an Australian TV. He reiterated that Gallipoli is not an event to be proud of but a graveyard to many Turks and Australians who had no quarrel between each other. After all, the Empire attacked a sovereign nation. Of course, the veterans are not going to take that lying down.

The film is 2014 directorial debut for Russell Crowe who also assumes the role of a farmer father who goes in search of his 3 soldier sons who went missing in action in Gallipoli in 1915. The farmer soon discovers that his loss is not unique and they are others in his same predicament, on the enemy side. He soon discover another culture and friends along the way. War does no good to anybody.

21st Indian Battery Guard. Photograph taken in 1915 

by Sergeant Charles Alexander Masters while on active

service with the Australian Imperial Force in Gallipoli.

Migration* makes the world go round!

Yet another meal from another relative to mark the departure of K's family to the 'Land of the plenty'. With so many dinners in their honour, it looks like they simply cannot reverse their decision now to migrate lock, stock and barrel to Land of Vegemite Sandwich.
K's ancestory saga began at beginning of the 20th century when K's grandparents made their own boat to escape unlivable living conditions in the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. They with a couple of friends set sail on a thug boat to Maldives. The captain, obviously a captain of circumstances who got all his bearings crossed and pretty soon found himself and all the passengers stranded in the wide open ocean at the mercy of the elements of nature, clinging on to whatever bits and pieces of their dear lives. Rescued by a passing steamer,  left with Hobson's choice, they landed in their next of calling, Pearl of the Orient, Penang. Seeing many of their fellow countrymen (and women) in a harmonious symbiotic life with other immigrants and locals, they decided to set home there. (as if they had much of a choice). In that situation, I suppose, everywhere you lay hat, that would be home!
They built home in a vacant plot of land in Parit Buntar, started cultivating and pretty soon were prosperous enough to be known as the place for a square meal and where the kitchen never sleeps. After scaling through life in the rough seas to edge of life and back, they took it upon themselves to be guardian angels to fellow men. They had no qualms of helping others and valuing inter and intrapersonal relationship. Their home was home to anyone who walk through their front door and never walks back hungry!
The blessing uttered by the contended hearts of a full stomach must have gone a long way in ensuring longevity of its inmates and prospering lives of its descendants. The next generation of the clan saw its members educated, responsible and holding respectable vocations. K's father became a top ranking feared by villains of the day as he posed majestically in the dailies after foiling yet another attempt by the bandits in creating mayhem! With his wife, a Kirby trained educators, travelled the country over, their motherland, educating the natives and ensuring peace in the newly independent nation called Malaysia. With the continuity of showers of blessings, like the falling petals of lotus flower off Goddess Laxmi, -gratitude of the satiety of a sage, perhaps, ensured life to be smooth sailing with succession of offsprings all well mannered and overseas educated.
Looking at the direction of the country with its uncertain gutter politics and communal upheavals, the 4th generation of the Malayan's own Quakers (parallel to Quakers who migrated to American fearing persecution only to prosper their newfoundland) suddenly felt they had to migrate for the well being of their downlines just as their ancestors had fled adverse living environment a century earlier . They have decided that Australia would be their new found home. We all wish them the best! Bon Voyage!
Over time, perhaps living conditions in Australia may decline and the need to migrate again may arise in generations to come. The whole cycle may be complete when migration to India may be the 'in thing' and the way India and China are holding the helm of economic prowl, its pull factor may not be an illusion but indeed could be imminent!

Indy Nadarajah & Alan Pereira

I just cannot help but remember the little caption from Indy Nadarajah and Alan Pereira's stage show (Man-O-pause) a few years ago where they were cross-dressed as Devi and Myrtle respectively. Devi, a happily-living-in-Malaysia contended gossipy housewife meets up with her old neighbour, Myrtle , who had earlier migrated to Australia for 'better life'.  Being inquisitive and busybody as most Malaysians are, Devi asks how Myrtle's children were performing as they were the main reason for immigration. "Oh, my first son has got a skating scholarship to teach children on a beach, my second has become gay and my daughter is living in with a man and have 2 children from two different men. And they are all very happy!" 


[*My English master(KSG) would be very crossed. Even though now migration and immigration used interchangeably, he strongly believed that migration is strictly for movement of animals whereas for humans the word is immigration!]

Why do Aussies’ dirty work?

Thursday May 12, 2011
Diplomatically Speaking
By Dennis Ignatius
duta.thestar@gmail.com


The problem of asylum seekers is a serious one and Malaysia is right to cooperate with other nations to curb human trafficking. However, any cooperation should not be to our disadvantage.
Malaysia and Australia an-nounced last week that both countries had reached an agreement in principle that would allow asylum seekers arriving Australia by boat to be transferred to Malaysia for “processing.”
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that the deal would send a clear message to asylum seekers that they “can be sent directly to Malaysia where they will be at the back of the queue.”
Malaysia, for its part, believes that the agreement would send a strong signal that our country should not be used as a transit point and that human trafficking is something that we do not condone.
 The agreement is highly controversial in Australia which has been struggling to deal with an influx of boat people or “irregular maritime arrivals” (IMAs), as they are rather euphemistically labelled. In the past 16 months, some 150 boats carrying 7,426 IMAs mostly from Sri Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan have reached Australia. Few would qualify as genuine refugees.
 Australian law, with its emphasis on human rights, makes it extremely difficult and costly for illegals to be summarily deported once they become subject to the Australian judicial system.
 Other western countries also face the same conundrum. Over the last two years, for example, several hundred boat people from Sri Lanka have managed to reach the west coast of Canada. Within months, all but a handful of them were released pending a review of their cases. No one is under any illusion that any of them will eventually be deported.
 The legal system in Canada is such that even murder suspects cannot be deported if there is a possibility that they might be subject to torture or other cruel and inhuman treatment, including the death penalty.
 One of the beneficiaries of this benevolence is a Malaysian murder suspect wanted by our police. Malaysia’s request for his extradition has been denied on the grounds that he might face the death penalty. He is presently pursuing the Canadian dream as a free man.
 Australia is therefore seeking to interdict illegals before they arrive in Australian waters and detain them in offshore detention centres well beyond the reach of Australian law. The objective is to literally let them rot in such centres as a warning to other would-be asylum seekers. Some might argue that this is the moral equivalent of extraordinary rendition.
 Australia has been desperately seeking to persuade a number of different countries, including Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste, to serve as regional detention centres for Australia bound asylum seekers. None, however, have agreed until now. The deal with Malaysia is, therefore, a breakthrough for Gillard’s policy of outsourcing Australia’s detention centres.
 While off-shore detention centres might make perfect sense for Australia, what is less clear is how it would benefit Malaysia.
 Malaysia already plays reluctant host to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants and refugees. It is a well-documented fact that they endure great hardship and abuse.
 The fundamental problem is that Malaysia has steadfastly refused to accede to the UN Refugee Convention. All refugees are treated as illegal immigrants and are subject to arrest, detention, punishment, and deportation. According to Amnesty International, more than 6,000 refugees are caned every year, while others have been trafficked to Thai gangs by corrupt local officials.
 Given this situation, there should be genuine concerns as to the fate of those who are now going to be transferred from Australia. In an attempt to assuage public concern in Australia, our High Commissioner in Canberra has stated that the transferees would not be detained in Malaysia but would be allowed to “mingle” with the population at large.
 What this “mingle” means is anybody’s guess, but one thing is certain: they will join the vast sea of suffering humanity that comprises Malaysia’s illegal population which is now estimated to number in excess of a million people.
 There might even be questions about the legality of this whole exercise under Malaysian law. Will their refugee status be recognized by the Government? Will they be allowed to seek employment to support themselves? Will they be guaranteed safety from RELA harassment? How long will they be allowed to stay in Malaysia? What would happen to them if they are not accepted for resettlement in third countries?
 Furthermore, there is a good possibility that rather than discouraging the use of Malaysia as a transit point it might well make us the principal holding area for would-be Australian asylum seekers. Do we want such a dubious distinction?
 Clearly, unless Malaysia is prepared to radically alter its approach to illegal immigrants and refugees, we are headed for a right royal mess.
 The problem of asylum seekers is indeed a serious one. Malaysia is right to cooperate with other countries to stymie the immoral work of people smugglers and human traffickers. As well, we certainly ought to take our obligations towards genuine refugees far more seriously than we now do.
 Becoming a dumping ground for unwanted illegals or doing Australia’s dirty work, however, neither serves our interests nor does justice to asylum seekers.
 The Government should seriously review this flawed initiative.

Waltzing Matilda

Just like in Edinburgh, I found the workers in Melbourne showing great dedication in their work (profession), (i.e. if and when they decided to work). In Edinburgh, (whilst gazing out my window between my preparation for my exams), I was particularly impressed to see how the sanitation department employees, i.e. rubbish collectors, actually placed the lid back on after disposing off the garbage and also putting back the bin at its designated place. This is a far cry from what we have in Malaysia, where blue collar workers of crony owned companies originating from third world countries of the lowest rung of the ladder trying to impart their brand of work ethics here. Evidence of the garbage truck having done their round need not be guessed as it and its workers would have left an apparent trail of evidence - bits of trash strewn around, garbage bins and lids all over and 'aroma' from leachete left dripping from the truck to deodorize the Taman!

Over Great Ocean Rd

In that aspect, I was totally taken by the enthusiasm shown by a Greyline tour bus operator, Daryll, who took us on trip along the Great Ocean Road off Melbourne. Carrying a passenger load of 60, he single-handedly swerved along the winding coastal road whilst giving a complete running commentary all along, stopping at selected photo shoot areas, doing a head count after passenger alighted the bus after each stop, and even preparing Aussie tea with eucalyptus leaves for morning tea. And the best part is his commentary was not just for the sake of imparting information. It was laced with clever witty lines with lots of historical and even medical stuff that a Malaysian would not expect his average bus driver to know. He was narrating about the construction of the coastal road (Great Ocean Road). At a time when economy was down just after the first World War, many disillusioned Australian soldiers returned with what would be termed today as post traumatic stress (I did not expect this from a non-medical personnel). To stimulate the economy, this soldiers were sent off to work on the great roads. The evening gathering over the fire and catharsis provided a kind of group therapy to these sufferers. Of course, this story was laced with many funny anecdotes and smart remarks to last over 1hour. In between his story he would interrupt with information of sunken ships and the events that led to its sinking, about somebody's grave, how it was supposed to be relocated but the road went on his grave anyway, about the Twelve apostles and so on and so forth.

Twelve Apostles?

On the way back from the 12 apostles was time for dissemination of Australian culture. Before screening an Australian movie on the bus TV, he gave a 1 hour rendition of his interpretation of the truly Aussie song- Waltzing Matilda. Let me try to recall... (with Daryll's comment beside the lyrics)


Lyrics to Waltzing Matilda :Banjo Paterson

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me

Banjo Paterson's real name was Andrew Barton Paterson. He decided to change to Banjo Paterson as probably with a name like Andrew Barton it made an easy prey for his mates to bully him off his lunch box! Swagman is a travelling odd job helper in farm, like a rolling stone. He sat by a river (billabong), under a shady coolibah tree (native Aussie tree) singing while waiting for his kettle (billy) to come to boil. That is when he thought of a young maiden who actually cared for him many years when she finally married off to a rich land owner. He would always think of the warm dance (waltz) with his dear Matilda.

Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong
Up got the swaggie and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me

Along came a sheep (jumbuck) for a drink. Our hero happily pounced on the prey and put in to his knapsack (tucker-bag)
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And he sang as he stowed that jumbuck in his tucker-bag
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me

In another scene, a landlord come back home after a hard at work. He asked his wife the most common three words uttered by any hot blooded Australian man, "What's for dinner?!". The wife half heartedly replied, "As if you don't already know, we always have baked beef on Thursdays!". The man said, "But, I smell roast lamb! Are you not fooling me?" The landlord then knew the somebody had been feasting on his sheep. He jumped on his majestic horse, called in the local police (3 of them) and located our hero. "What's that in your haversack? You have come with me to jail" said the Sheriff.

Down came the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Up came the troopers One Two Three
Who's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
Who's the jolly jumbuck you've got in your tucker-bag?
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me.
Up got the swaggie and jumped into the billabong
You'll never catch me alive said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
In those rowdy early days of Australia, one would be hanged for stealing somebody else's animal. So our hero, in order to escape the police, he jumped into the river and drowned. His ghost, it seems still haunts the river. He can heard heard dancing the waltz with his pretty Matilda.

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You'll come a-Waltzing Matilda with me.

That speaks so much about the level of dedication and pride shown by tourist guides in Australia (or at least Daryll of the Grayline). At the end of the journey, he quipped, "I have left some feedback forms for you to fill and my name is Daryll spelt with a double 'L', just like in the word excellent!"
A 10 hour journey well spent...

 

Southern Cross station after dark

Near Etihad Stadium

Overgrowth down under

Rememberance Park St Kilda Rd

Oz contribution in Emergency

@ Spencer St

Over Yarra River