Present Mayor Ken Keith made mention of the fact at this week’s Australia Day awards ceremony in Cooke Park.

Despite his many honours and long service, Robert had never received our Citizen of the Year which (to me anyway) was quite surprising.

Mayor Keith said thankfully, his efforts were publicly acknowledged by his own community before he was killed.

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The Australia Day holiday over the years has just been something which has been taken for granted by most people.

But I sense there is a real change in attitude towards it nowadays.

Rather than treating it as a day off, I believe people are actually adopting some form of patriotism and really getting into the Aussie spirit on the day.

Certainly my experience in the past couple of years is that locals, and I am including young people which is very pleasing, are donning their flags and tattoos, placing flags on their vehicle, and having Australia Day parties.

Admittedly, it is still about partying, but we seem to be acknowledging Australia in some form or other in the celebration - so that is a good thing.

I see it as a little bit like Anzac Day.

I had fears for its long term future (apart from a holiday) but the national pride and interest has grown substantially in recent years.

And I think that is the same for Australia Day.

It makes you proud to be an Aussie!

Oh, I should mention that Ron Delezio was a fantastic ambassador for the shire.

I had plenty of dealings with him during the program at Cooke Park and nothing was too much.

Whatever I asked, he was happy to oblige.

He proved very popular too with the locals who were all keen to talk to him and his wife, Carolyn.

We were certainly very fortunate to have him.

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I mentioned last week that our eldest daughter, Melanie was heading over to South America for nine months.

Well, we took her down to the Big Smoke last weekend and put her on the plane.

I have been to Mascot or Sydney Airport before - but not for a few years (we’ve actually been able to keep the kids home in Australia in recent times).

It is now such a huge place. Very intimidating to this young journo from Parkes.

Cars and people everywhere, all battling for space and going at a thousand miles an hour.

A real rat race.

I had to drop the girls off and then go searching for a carpark space (which was a long way from where I eventually had to be!) and then remember landmarks so I could find my way back to the car.

But I succeeded in finding everyone (I’m going to have to learn how to use the mobile phone, I guess. I’m told it solves all problems of getting lost).

Anyway, after Mel had checked in and her luggage despatched, we had a few hours to spare.

Brekkie was welcomed (if not at prices I never dreamt could be charged for a couple of eggs) and we settled back for a while.

I have to admit to being a bit of a people-watcher so it was quite an interesting time as people scurried here and there.

It was all quite an experience which I have to say, I enjoyed, but I was also very glad to get out of there.

As I have said so many time before however, driving past the Parkes Airport and back into Parkes is just about the best feeling you can have.

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THOUGHT FOR

THE WEEK:

‘The only problem with common sense is that it is not all that common.