Queensland Disaster Heroes 12.06.2011

 

After the Queensland January floods and cyclone Yasi, I invited my 90-year-old poet friend Ken to write a poem about the resilience and willingness of Queenslanders to help each other in times of crisis.  Here it is:

We Are Queenslanders

Chorus:

We are Queenslanders, we stand straight and tall,

Whatever the need, we answer the call.

We’re not just fair weather friends, instead,

We work side by side

For whatever is right, with a sense of pride.

We are Queenslanders, Queenslanders here,

Beneath a Queensland sun.

1. We’ll tackle each task with great skill,

No matter the odds, we will

Roll up our sleeves to help a mate,

Do our best throughout this sunshine state.  Repeat Chorus.

 

2. Good times, having fun,

In the surf, and sun.

Sunset skies in outback towns

Remind us why we can’t stay down because....  Repeat Chorus.

 

My talented Kookaburra Music partner and friend Debbie set the words to music.  We taught the song to the school choir, and the children sang it at the opening of the new school hall in May.  State member for Sandgate Vicky Darling, who participated in opening the hall with Federal member Yvette D’Ath, liked the song, and invited the children to sing at the Suncorp Piazza at South Bank for the Queensland Disaster Heroes Awards Day in Queensland Week.  How exciting!

We had to meet at 7.15am at school on a Sunday – it didn’t help that the weather was uncharacteristically cold and a bit rainy, but our spirits were not dampened.

 

Arriving at the Piazza, we were assigned to Dressing Room 8 – with our name on the door!

 

The sign on the door said that the maximum capacity of the dressing room was 16, but we managed to fit in 46 children and assorted adults.  16 of the children even managed to sit on chairs and admire themselves in the dressing room mirrors.

 

  Lining up for the sound check.  It’s cold!

 

Sound check.

 

Our sound check was at 8.10am.  By 9am, these seats were beginning to fill up, and by 10am, there was standing room only.  Several hundred volunteers were presented with medals as they arrived, and were acknowledged during the ceremony by having their names printed out on the main screen.

After the sound check, we returned to the dressing room for morning tea.

 

Just before the children went out to sing, we were honoured by the arrival of a “special visitor” – Vicky Darling had arranged for Premier Anna Bligh to come and meet the children.

 

Premier Anna Bligh, Sandgate member Vicky Darling, poet Ken Manwaring and some of the children.

 

 

Premier Anna Bligh with some of the excited children.

 

Vicky Darling, being tall, was asked by the photographer to stand in front of the No Smoking sign.

 

Group photo.

 

Premier Anna Bligh talking to the students.

 

We presented Anna Bligh and Vicky Darling with “I’m a Queenslander” T shirts.

 

Premier Anna Bligh and Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan with song creators Ken and Debbie.  School Principal Gary and Assistant Principal Jo are in the background.

 

Vicky Darling pops into the picture with an arm around Wayne Swan and Ken.  (This is Ken’s favourite picture.)

 

On stage at last.  The compere was Channel 9 newsreader Bruce Paige.  The lady beside him was signing his commentary.

 

Singing the song, with Marilyn conducting.

 

During her speech, Anna Bligh acknowledged both Debbie and Ken by name, and suggested that “We Are Queenslanders” could become a new Queensland anthem!

(By the way, the sheet music and a recording of “We Are Queenslanders” is available from Kookaburra Music contact@kookaburramusic.com.au )

“I’m a Queenslander” T shirts are also available from Jan Smith jmsmith@bigpond.net.au with all proceeds going to St Vincent de Paul for Queensland disaster relief.