Veronika Wild

Poster made by children at the Mosman Library reflecting the great diversity in Australia -This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY March 21st was Harmony Day in Australia. In other parts of the world this day is celebrated as the International Day for the Elimination of Racism. I must say I like our title better, because there is less emphasis on race and more on coming together, or at least living together in peace. This is never more timely as the world enters a new era of xenophobia. [For students of English this means fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners]. Although I will be talking mainly about Australia here -considered until recently the most successful multicultural country in the world, I believe there are lessons here for other countries too as many face similar problems.  As I write we have some particularly shrill folks calling for Australia to be just for Australians and for  this day to be renamed Deportation Day, so my aim is to tell...

Early Sunset  at Lauderdale. That's Mount Wellington in the background   It's hard to believe that at this time last year we were enjoying a European summer. Winter has come early this year. The days are short. There has been snow on the mountain several days in a row, lots of rain and howling winds but I suppose we should be thankful we aren't in Queensland (cyclones and flooding) or in the many places which are still drought stricken. We are having some lovely weather now though. It was my sister's fault really. She made me realise how little I actually knew about the place I have been calling home for the past 40 years. Not even about the place across the river which is practically a suburb of Hobart. When you live here you take all that amazing scenery for granted, but when you have visitors you rediscover all sorts of interesting things. She will be pleased to know that I have been there twice since our visit. Hobart is a bit like Valparaiso in that it i...