I wondered what to write about for my first blog and hence why it took a few weeks for me to put pen to paper.
I thought maybe I could write a piece on the federal budget handed down last week or maybe on the recent retirement of two of football’s greatest figures in David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson. But whilst both are very relevant in my life, it didn’t inspire me…..
On the weekend I took a trip down south to Kurnell with Jade and Georgia to enjoy the sun. Kurnell is the birth place of modern Australia, where Captain Cook first set foot on Australian soil.
While I waded in the water with Georgia as we looked for shells I stopped for a minute to just take in the significance of where I was standing and it dawned on me just how lucky we are to live in Australia. And this is what has inspired me to write !
As one of the youngest countries in the world we are still evolving as a nation and finding our identity. And as a result it gives anyone the opportunity to make a name for themselves and succeed in life no matter where they come from because it is these individuals and groups (that are making names for themselves) who are shaping who we are.
As I thought about this, knee deep in Botany Bay, with my beautiful little girl playing by my side and darling wife sitting in the sand behind us i realised that everyone has a chance in Australia if they want it.
Even a guy like me, the eldest of three boys, from a single mum family with little more than my drive and ambition to make it in life. I was determined to make the most of the hand I was dealt and not allow any predefined stereotypes to be applied to me just because we lived in state housing and lived only inches above the poverty line.
Where else in the world can you start with nothing more than a dream and a piece of paper showing a handsome UAI and be able to get a cutting edge education at University and start a rewarding and successful career and not end up in debt for the next 30 years? Nowhere. And that is why we live in such a lucky country.
In Australia anyone can change their “status quo” if they want to. Anyone can give it a go and meet the woman of their dreams, be their own boss and give themselves a chance of financial freedom.
And as I stood there reflecting on all of this it really did dawn on me the significance of the spot…..because this is where my chance, my opportunity, my dream was started some 200 odd years ago.
James Solomons 