My worst fear on my jolly, four week holiday in Oz, was having my cell phone swished around in the toilet by my very busy, very inquisitive 18 month old grandson. Water is a great fascination to him and watching things either sink or bob gives him particular pleasure. Once I found the perfect spot for the phone – out of reach of all children over the age of 1, I relaxed and got on with enjoying the time spent with my Oz family who moved to Brisbane from Ballito in 2010 and who have settled in remarkably well. Yes there is petty crime, but not the type that triggers the need to keep an eye on anything valuable 24/7.
South Africans can learn such a lot from the Ozzies. We’re on the same Latitude after all, so have the same weather patterns, the same passion for outdoor stuff, sport particularly. But what impressed me most about the Australians and their way of life, is their huge respect for the environment. They cherish it to the extent that you feel like a criminal running over a frog on the road – unless it’s the fat, feral Cane Toad – They’re happy for you to squash them as flat as you can as they’re a massive menace, particularly in Queensland.
Go for a walk in a park or place of interest and you will find notices up all around you telling you what to look out for – flora and fauna – and something on the history. You cannot leave without learning something about the area you’ve visited, and develop a new found respect for it.
A visit to Fraser Island – about 5 hours from Brisbane – was a great example of the respect the Ozzies have for their homeland. This World Heritage listed Island is the largest sand island in the world and famous for its over 100 fresh water lakes and for being the home of the last remaining pure bred Dingoes in Australia. You can only get there with a 4WD. The ferryman won’t let you across if you’re in anything less. There are signs up everywhere explaining how important it is NOT to feed or get to close to the indigenous Dingo, NOT to picnic beside any of the fresh water lakes ; NOT to light fires in restricted areas. You are also advised to carry rubbish bags with you so that you can bundle up and take your rubbish home if you’re camping. It’s a wonderful, pristine piece of Ozzie paradise and a great credit to the Ozzies for keeping it that way, despite the thousands of tourists that visit the island.
I was also impressed with the well kitted out parks in Urban Melborne and Brisbane and the play parks at the shopping centres. Very family-centric. A shopping experience is not quite so taxing for parents or children if kids are allowed to drive their own car around the centre – even if it’s just a trolley lookalike!
We need to take a closer look at how we can replicate some of the successful innovations put in place by the Ozzies. They work and they help keep the population happy… which is what we should be aiming for.