Australia Day 2012

I would like to suggest that the best place to celebrate Australia Day is in the capital, Canberra.  You get to mix with celebs like our GG, Quentin Bryce, Julie of course, the brand new Australians of the Year and most important, Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) who is Australia Day Chairman.

The venue was on the Lake between the War Memorial and Parliament House...pretty shmick location.  After about a 20 min walk I did have grand ideas of partaking in the free bacon & egg breakie, but 1,000 other people had the same thought, so went without.

Too bad if you want a free breakie. Join the queue

While surveying the scene of the upcoming ceremony I was approached by a young attendant and asked if I would like to take a seat in the official enclosure... probably saw the grey hair and sweat on the brow after the brisk walk and thought it better to get me sitting.  Actually they were obviously keen to get all the seats filled after the new Australians and friends were in there!

The Defence marching bands and the white lady arrived (Julia Gillard) along with men in black with earplugs and talking into their hands.  Quentin Bryce sat next to Courtney Bryce and Gilly seemed very comfortable amongst the luminaries.

The ceremony included jet fighters flashing overhead, cannons shooting blanks over the lake and some stirring music.  I must say that I was surprise to feel a tear in the eye as we witnessed the families who took the oath and the citizenship certificate from Julia.  I even recited the affirmation as an Australian citizen (along with another 4,000 people present) and sang both verses of Advance Australia Fair.

Actually, mingling with the crowd after was pretty cool also.  I wished Quentin and Julia "happy Australia Day" and spoke with the newest Young Australian of the Year, Marita Cheng.  Couldn't catch Geoffrey Rush.

Actually, I would recommend Canberra for Australia Day celebration.