Life as a kid in Australia

For me the greatest aspect of being an Australian was my carefree childhood, growing up under clear sunny skies. Like most Aussie kids I spent most of my time outdoors playing cricket, kicking a football and holidaying at the beach. I had plenty of good mates, an insatiable appetite, a bike, skinned knees and a freckled face. Such fond memories of my childhood complete one great chapter of my life.

Then when I reached my early teens my father and I would pack the family sedan each weekend, and drive to distant gem fields to fossick for semi-precious stones. We nearly always found one good specimen that dad would carefully wash, then wrap in cotton wool and place in an empty matchbox. This he would proudly show mum on our return. Mum never came with us, she was a city girl scared of snakes and spiders, but loved to see our sparkling finds. During these weekends away I developed a deep love for the beauty of the Australian landscape. Our travels took us to many areas. When in the mountains I would sit beside flowing streams, mesmerized by the movement of the crystal clear water as it passed quietly by. I wondered where this stream might have started its journey, and where it would end.

Sunset - Central Australia

While driving across wide open places I remember feeling the hot wind blowing in my face, and seeing the rolling countryside stretching into a distant heat-haze and shimmering mirage. When we stopped for lunch I would always look for the comfort of a large shaded gum tree to rest against. In the towering branches above I would often hear the 'screech' of parrots, or the loud piercing calls from a flock of galahs, as they too sheltered from the midday sun.

My love of the Aussie bush continued to grow as an adult, particularly when I worked for the Queensland Museum. My job, and it's hard to imagine that anyone would call this work, was to spend 3 months each year in the remotest regions of inland Australia, digging up dinosaurs! Can you imagine that for a job, yep that's what I did for eight years!

In all those years I never slept in a tent. I would make up a bed-roll next to the fire each night, and settle down. In the early hours of the morning I would be awakened by the fall of damp dew. I would then roll over and gaze up in absolute wonder at the millions of stars that shone so brighly in the infinite expanse above. This is an experience like no other, it is absolutely breathtaking to witness.

After returning from research in the field we would rustle up some 'tucka' and 'boil the billy', quietly settling back to watch the vibrant reds and golden yellows of sunset. We had the largest campfires. I took great pride in making a good fire, one that had a thick bed of coals for cooking raw potatoes wrapped in foil, or baking Aussie bread, known as damper. The coals also served as an important source of warmth against the cold desert air, for when I lay out my bed-roll.

All of these are fond experiences and binding memories. Awarenesses that began with weekends away fossicking, expanding further during my time away from the city and now concluding with the greatest awareness of them all - all that surrounds me is an extension of myself!

When I look back, I realise that when I pondered my existence while watching the mountain streams, witnessed the vastness of the open plains, the beauty of the star-filled sky and the stillness of the ebbing coals I was simply witnessing aspects of my own spiritual self.

Now when I sit to meditate I am re-inspired by my life's travels within Australia's timeless landscape ...