Melissa Doyle

Our national pride is not as razzmatazz as some nations, nor is it haughty, assumed or arrogant.

We are just us. Free of pretence. We have nothing to prove to anyone. No high ideals of having to be the most cultural, fashionable, historic or religious. We can just be.

And we love one another for it. We can sniff out pomp and ceremony a mile off. We’re sceptical of anyone who bungs it on and scoff at anyone who thinks they are better than the rest of us.

We are comfortable getting dirty. What kid hasn’t dug a little hole in the back yard and made mud pies? Using mum’s Corning Ware. Band-aids are a badge of honour. Muddy boots belong in the laundry.

We are fearless. After all, that’s how we got here. No GPS on those ships.

And we are happy to venture out, no matter how far. We travel the world. Before growing up we are brave enough to head to London and work behind a bar. The flight is nothing. The adventure is everything.

Distance doesn’t bother us. Who hasn’t been grubbed out of bed in the wee hours of the morning and bundled into the car in their pyjamas to head north on summer holidays. A 12-hour drive means more truck stops and eye spy.

We can swing on a hills hoist or ride a bike to a mate’s house at top speed… and we do it in thongs.

Our footy players don’t need all that body armour. And the further they skid on the grass through the goal posts the better.
We love our sportsmen with a passion. They run, swim, ride and bat in a way we wish we all could. And if it can’t be us, we’re glad it’s them.

We are nostalgic. We treasure our grandparent’s stories of surviving the war, conquering the outback or arriving here on boats as babies.

We are gentle. We respect our animals, nurture our gardens and treasure our water.

We are green. We stop and smell the roses and appreciate the sunsets because they are simply so beautiful. The red dirt is such a part of who we are. The snowy mountains are romantic. A bushman and his dog have an indescribable bond.

We love the warmth of the sun on our skin, the sand giving under our feet and the ice-cream running down our arms.

And we can smell a BBQ a mile off.

We laugh at ourselves. No canned laughter. And if no one gets us, who cares, we laugh anyway. We get us.

We think we’re old enough, cultured enough, talented enough and clever enough. And that’s all that matters. We don’t give a toss what anyone else thinks ‘cos we’re ok with who we are.

We like our beer cold and our cars able to go off road even if they never do.

We’re like the youngest sibling. We don’t have to follow all the rules and set an example. Nor do we feel lost in the middle. The focus is off us and we like it like that.

We know what we’ve got and who we are. And we love it.

Melissa is a journalist, author and television presenter, best known to many as the co-host of Australia’s leading breakfast television program, SUNRISE. She has worked as a journalist in the electronic media for over 18 years and has hosted many successful programs and specials throughout her career.