We never intended to go to an Australia Day celebration this year.

We never intended to go to an Australia Day celebration this year.

But, it turned out that where we are staying was just a hundred metres or so from one such event, so we wandered down to have a look.

Now ths was on the opposite side of a body of water from the main action, but still very busy. And polite. And friendly. And community spirited.

There were folks from all walks of life, just having a good time. We ended up next to an Aboriginal extended family, and several other families from other parts of the world. The kids didn't care - there was trading of glow sticks (because each of the various families had differing mixes), a shared obession with the massive school of blowfish close to the shore, and a lot of laughs.

There was a small amount of alcohol, but very discrete, and not a VB in sight - maybe the odd Gauge Roads or minim of high-end white, but that was it.

And at the end of it, when we were back at our apartment, sitting on our balcony, watching the traffic jam, a girl and her dad walked past, and she looked up, and wished us a happy Australia Day. To a pair of complete strangers, sitting in the dark with our snagger sarrnies.

I suddenly have hope for our future generations.