We’re no longer the “Lucky country” and we only have ourselves to blame. We did this through a number of elements; greed, lack of understanding, changed government regulations, the selling off of our government owned assets, global warming, the carbon tax, now the new list of taxes being brought out in the new budget…
I was born in August 1943 and brought up in Sydney’s inner west in New South Wales Australia in the 1940’s and throughout the 1950’s. Australia was ‘the place to immigrate to’ in the ’50 is as we were a growing nation with beautiful weather and countryside as well as almost perfect employment opportunities. Australia, became known as, ‘The Lucky Country’ after World War Two.
Australia had sunshine most of the year, a happy go lucky attitude to life; we had wonderful neighbors and friends. Very little crime and most people were very happy. Everyone we knew worked hard to save and buy a home, this was a pleasant experience and young couples reached their goals with the minimum of stress.
Even though my young parents split up while I was a baby, it really did not change my future. My teenage Aunt Sylvia brought me with the help of my Grandmother, who had Irish in her blood, and loved a drink or two.
My days were filled with fun and laughter, music, parties with friends and relatives. They all respected and cared for each other. Life was good at their little rented home. When Sylvia married Jack in 1947 they began saving to buy a home. My grandmother died in 1954.
We moved into our own home in 1957 by then I had a little sister and brother and life in the outer western suburbs brought us together with English, Irish, Italian and Scottish immigrants, we loved it, life was good, we learned so much from our neighbour’s about the life they came from and became lifelong friends.
This was a time where Australia was growing we invited trades people to join us from overseas, it was a working country, everyone worked to build Australia into a better country, all of our ‘New Australians brought with them skills and enthusiasm to grow.’ They had opportunities to bring up their families in the sun with an easy way of life. Homes were affordable, the cost of living was within the scope of wages paid to the breadwinner, we had new friends who embraced our way of life and appreciated their new homes in the sun.
I learned from them to appreciate what we had in ‘our lucky country’ after they told of the hardships they had come from. How they were not safe to go out and feel free. They all assimilated and integrated into our society as one.
When I talk about this easy way of life with my grandchildren, they all agree it was ideal and wish they still had these opportunities to be able to feel free and safe in the streets or clubs as I was in this ‘Our Lucky Country.’
They ask me if maybe Australia took in too many immigrants and made us too much like the countries our beloved ‘New Australians’ had escaped from. I have no answer for them. Do you have an answer for them?
Where did we go wrong in stopping Australia from being the lucky country? What do you think has contributed to Australia’s reputation demise? Tell us in the comments below…
