Today has been filled with emotion for me.  It is our national day of mourning for those killed in the Victorian bushfires.  I wept along with countless others this morning as I thought of the devastation, destruction and unfathomable sadness of those directly affected by the bushfires in Australia.

I am guilty of not mentioning the fires on Australia Entertains.  Here is my reason.  Pure and simple.  I didn’t know what to say.

I have spent the past couple of weeks remembering the fires that devastated Canberra only a few years before.  My own home (my precious, tiny, beautiful first home called “Frog Cottage”) was right in the firing line of the unstoppable path of bushfires.  I have been remembering standing in my little home trying to work out what to take with us as I could hear the rush of the fires outside.  I remember my husband (boyfriend at the time) watering the gutters with a trickling hose in a redundant attempt to protect us from the embers.  I remember making the decision to give up and bundling our two dogs (we didn’t have kids at the time) into the car and driving away not knowing whether we would see my little house again.

Thankfully, we were ok.  Our dogs were ok, our neighbours were ok, our friends weren’t hurt.  While there was so much property gone, destroyed, covered in black ash and melted into unrecognisable clumps of plastic, we were all ok.  None of us were hurt.

Our compatriots in Victoria were not as lucky.  I am so very sorry for what has happened to you.  I am so very sorry.

This afternoon, I was lucky enough to take a ferry ride from Homebush to Darling Harbour in Sydney today as I am in town for the annual gift fairs.  I was reminded so vividly of the beauty of this amazing country despite its sometimes harsh and destructive environment.

I defy anyone to nominate a more beautiful location in the world than this one.  Our country is heaven.  From the dusty outback to the lusious rainforest.  From the flair of our cities to the bright whiteness of our beaches.  Australia is truly heaven.

This is a wonderful week for Australia.  Hugh Jackman is hosting the Oscars.  Surely Heath Ledger will win one.  Footy season has started.  Mardi Gras is just around the corner.  And all of us will continue to help rebuild the communities devastated by the fires in Victoria.  In true Australian spirit, we will not forget.

I am writing this post as I sit in my hotel room looking at the devastatingly handsome Darling Harbour in Sydney.  I am filled with love for this place.  I want to celebrate it.  I am very glad indeed to be an Australian.

Happy Celebrating!

Kathryn