Indeed, the lowest point of the recent Anzac Day commemorations was people booing at the Welcome to Country.
Exactly why people would think this is appropriate is beyond me.
It shines a light on a serious race problem. one of the things that can bring unity is music and tonight was a celebration of that.
The Sapphires is a sparkling gem of a show taking the audience on a journey into Vietnam with a first nations girl group in the 1960s.
Then these native marsupials become right little terrors, terrors that enjoy the luxury of being protected species.
Brisbane City Council likes to remind residents that they do good by maintaining biodiversity through seed dispersal, insect control and pollination.
That puts them in the basket of necessary evil ... better to have them than not no matter how annoying they might be.
Speaking of annoying. ... today I had an appointment with Centrelink. I am fully aware that having a functioning social security safety net is one thing Australia has in its favour (I'm not pointing fingers at you America... okay I am).
Turns out, I've got one thing wrong my whole life. Bird watching.
And right now in Brisbane, it's Brisbane Comedy Festival time and there are laughs aplenty. Tonight we braved the rain and ventured out to see British comedian Olga Koch in her show Fat Tom Cruise.
City Susan was out on the town again tonight to another riverside precinct that didn't exist in the Brisbane of old.
Howard Smith Wharves , located under the Story Bridge, is the ultimate Friday night party place with just about every cuisine on offer.
The second we get to the beach he barks, begs and bothers until his ball is produced. He then carries it for the duration of the walk.
I'm leading a double life, each with its own rhythms, routines and rituals.
City Susan lives in Brisbane where she spends quite a lot of time at the theatre and either her or one of the tribe is attending some kind of medical appointment.
Sandy Susan loves to walk the dogs along the beach, taking photos and staring out at the ocean.
I am what Steven Sondheim would call a lady who lunches. Most days that's a Vegemite sandwich bit when the occasion allows it will involve a female friend, a beverage and a lot of gossiping. Today marked such an opportunity and in the CBD the best vantage point is by the river. It wasn't always this way. For much of my time in the region we did out very best to turn our back on the river like a gatecrasher at a party. But any gatecrasher ignored is prone to wreaking havoc. And so it was with the big brown snake that winds its way through the heart of Brisbane,
Ask anyone who lived through the floods of 1974 or 2011 or 2022. So have learned to embrace it rather than fight against it The latest evidence of that is the new pedestrian bridge, The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge. It's a striking piece of architecture and home to a rather lovely restaurant Stilts. It was there my friend Bernadette and I found ourselves at lunchtime today indulging in a bit of eating, a lot of gossiping and our fair share of people watching.
From my vantage point I could see my old alma mater. There the most notable thing about the river, was the icy blast of wind that would whip off the river and up your skirt on a winter's morning. That and the smell of hops from the Carlton & United brewery are among the enduring memories of the high school years.
There were no tunnels and no City Cats. The river was our city's equivalent of the Berlin Wall, an almost impenetrable barrier that practically requires a passport to cross. Residents and either northsiders or southsiders and while it is, in theory, possible to change your allegiance few do. So for two women from opposite sides of the tracks a venue perched above the river proved a perfect choice.
* Day 1 of what? you may ask. Day one of my wonderful friend and radio broadcaster Kelly Higgins-Devine's 100 Day challenge. KHD says "The idea of this project is for you is to decide on one creative, enjoyable or healthy task you will commit to doing for 100 days." I decided to write... It's been too long. There will be images too, many of them may will be dogs
