Links between Ireland and Australia
I can remember it like it was just yesterday. It was the mid-eighties and I was just an awe-stricken young eight-year-old as I accompanied my aunt to Shannon Airport. She was the second of my relations that was travelling to spend a summer in Australia and I can still remember the look in her eyes as we saw her off. To me, she exuded an air of nervous anticipation, tinged with the excitement of what was no doubt going to be one of the most memorable summers of her young life. As we entered through the cavernous doors of Shannon International Airport, you can imagine what the place must have looked like through the captivated eyes of a child. I could not stop looking around and twice my grandfather had to reprimand me for wandering off. Whether I was enthralled in the wake of a visiting Spanish football team, with their strange skin and even stranger language, or mesmerised in the pursuit of a Jamaican couple, who sported an outlandish hairstyle which perfectly accentuated their strange multicoloured clothes, all it took was a mere word from my grandfather's weather worn lips and his faithful companion would return to his side! I instantly loved it, a bizarre place where a weird or wonderful
We watched my aunt walk to the plane from the viewing lounge situated above the runway and though I could hardly keep my eyes on one spot for more than a few seconds in this fascinating mix of cultures, my youthful mind noted the solemn sadness of the occasion. My grandparents looked on with a smile on their face, yet their eyes looked tired. She paused for a moment to turn back and give a brief wave as she boarded the Aer Lingus 747, as if to soothe the spirits of her poignant parents. She still had that air of unbridled excitement about her, though, and her face betrayed her thoughts as she sprang up the walkway. Our eyes followed the plane as it turned to slowly taxi down the runway and I can vividly remember my breath fogging the tough glass as it slowly took off into the skies, only to be quickly swallowed by the pervasive bad Irish weather. I can only imagine her excitement, off to a new land, to meet new people, see new places and experience new things. It must have been akin to my curiosity as I questioned my grandfather the next day... He continued with his story of the founding of the city. I found out that John Batman, a famous pioneer and entrepreneur, had negotiated with the Aboriginal elders for the purchase of 500,000 acres at the head of Port Phillip Bay. I can only imagine the incredulous look on my face as he informed me of the price that was paid for the land - 40 blankets, 30 axes, 100 knives, 50 scissors, 30 mirrors, 200 handkerchiefs, 100 pounds of flour, and six shirts. All that for a city! He told me of how the city was given it's present name, in honour of the then British Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne, after being dubbed 'Bearbrass' for many decades. I nodded, wondering what this had to do with our story. 'How do they stay stuck to the ground?'
Some common words found in the essay are:
Aer Lingus, International Airport, Paddy Hannon, British Empire, Ned Kelly, Hara Burke, Here's To'ee, St Patrick, Phillip Bay, Wexford Sydney, head port, straight 'till morning, straight 'till, coast australia, own eyes, discovered famous, 'till morning, ned kelly, told city, south coast, irish settlers,
Approximate Word count = 2036
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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