As you undoubtedly know, this has been a dark week for Australians. We have experienced one of the worst disasters on record, not only for Australia but internationally as well. It has been heart breaking watching families desperately searching for loved ones amongst the ruins of their communities. Sometimes you catch a glimpse of people that are literally frozen with shock and amazement that they survived. That they are alive. Seeing such raw emotion could be overwhelming. However, the more I watched, the more I was amazed. We often hear and see only the worst of human nature. But every now and then, something so big happens and instead of crumbling, our true greatness is revealed, the people we really are.
The Victorian Bushfires have left much devastation and heartbreak in their wake and yet, I was so amazed that instead of becoming paralyzed by the overwhelming loss and ruin, the Australian people snapped straight to attention and looked at the needs of their fellow man, what was needed to help them get through their hardship and suffering. The support and aid coming flying in, people have gone without to help those who have nothing left. Those with nothing left (like the flood victims in Queensland) gave regardless. The Australian people collectively said “we will not let these people suffer alone, we will share the load, we will help lift you from your tragedy and we will carry you through”. I have never heard the word LOVE mentioned so many times on the news ever. People, absolute strangers, were wanting to convey a message to the victims of this tragedy and they have done it in their millions.
We love you. You are not alone. We are here for you.
I can honestly say I have NEVER been prouder to be an Australian. We may not be a nation big on showing our emotions but when something like this happens to a few, it affects us all and we reveal our true nature by sending all our love, and massive amounts of support, to those who really need it.
And so while we have done so much, there will still need to be more done. But I think, we, as a nation, are totally up to the challenge. We are more than ready to say: We love you. You are not alone. We are in it for the long haul. And I believe we truly are.
To help the victims of the Victorian Bushfire please give generously to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal here and however you can, show these people the love that we have for them.
Love, Lily
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That was beautifully put, Lily. I’ve been saying the same thing all week – that we really are the greatest country in the world. I remember arriving back in Brisbane from L.A in 1996 and said out loud as we were walking to customs, ‘we really are the lucky country’, and the more I travel, the more people I meet and the more news I watch, I realise that we really are just so blessed to be Australian.