As the summer sun burns through the morning mist families play on the beach. Up on a makeshift, truck tray stage a small child from another place gives thanks to a country that has taught her it’s language and now nurtures her on the path to adulthood.
The crowd claps and cheers their faces chiselled through the generations from the genes of a hundred races. Sun hats plopped on heads, ice creams, cold drinks and kids lost in a sea of fun.
The Sea Scouts raise the flag and on this gentle bayside beach everyone stops what they’re doing to sing the National Anthem on this one day of the year, loud and with so much heartfelt pride “Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free …” on they sing with gusto when suddenly and without warning the choir lurches into the second verse.
The fear and uncertainty is palpable as the crowd, united as one, thinks “Shit! What’s the second verse?”
itchingforhitching 
So true. No idea what the second verse is either.
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Like Olympic athletes we all managed to mumble through.
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Exactly
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That looks like rather a wonderful tradition
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Each town has a regular activity usually speeches to honour the achievements of local people and some entertainment. One town near us always puts on fireworks. But above all it’s a day for catching up with friends and having a bbq a celebration of our lifestyle.
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You’ve caught the atmosphere perfectly
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Thanks. Our band had fun too!
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Love it. And no, I do t know the second verse either.
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Ha
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