Here is something today I just needed to get out of my system:

We, as Australian’s, are as patriotic as any. As the fireworks explode every Australia Day evening, Australians show that they do indeed love their country all right, the anthem-singing and the flag-waving crowds show this. However at your next Australia Day, have a look at how many references to the Queen and Britain. Indeed the Queen must be aware that her position is anomalous now. In many of our embassies overseas, a picture of the monarch is not displayed. She has disappeared from our oaths of citizenship. If she really is our head of state, as the protocol books all say then why do we as Australian’s feel the need to hush up the fact. Or maybe the Australian public are the canary in the coal mine. If we don’t think the monarch of Great Britain should be our head of state, let’s make it official.

With the election of Kevin Rudd as our Prime Minister and the elevation of Malcolm Turnbull (once head of the Australian Republican Movement) to the position of Opposition Leader, the opportunity for a the creation of an Australian Republic is ripe. Since World War 2 there has been a marked shift in our feelings towards Britain. No longer to we turn to the motherland for assistance, and have we, as a nation, have truly attempted to step up and a take a leadership in South-East Asia. Australian’s need a republic now just as much as we needed a federation in 1901. 

Australian’s have a dream. We have a dream of being a young, yet knowledgeable; a small yet powerful nation that has a leadership role in today’s world. The republic question is the one thing holding us back from fulfilling this dream. For too long we have been seen as a convict colony of Britain. For to long have we been kept under the shadow of the Commonwealth. How can we possibly take a leadership position in the Asia pacific if we are technically ruled by a nation on the other side of the world. Australia needs to become a republic. If we don’t, we will forever be haunted by the shadow of Great Britain and the Crown. 

The are those that argue that we have a duty to acknowledge our convict past, and that is something that the Republic won’t change. Countries that were once British subjects but succeeded from the Commonwealth don’t all of a sudden ignore there past. Rather it allowed them, as it would for us, a chance to start anew, to shape a new national identity, to write a new chapter in our nations history. A history that includes that backgrounds of all, not only British migrants. 

Practically it also makes sense. As it stands now, we are already essentially a republic. The British rarely become involved in Australian domestic affairs, our economy is more closely linked with Asian countries such as China then it will ever be with Britain, and our foreign policies are more focused on the Asia Pacific region and our alliance with the United States. The Queen is seen by most as being a symbol of a bygone era, with 60% of Australians agreeing with the idea of a Republic and this number will no doubt increase when the Queen passes on the crown. 

With this is mind, there is no time like the present. If we are to truly become that independent, knowledgeable nation with its own unique identity, then we must throw off the shackles of the past. If we want to become the leader of the Asia Pacific, then the ties must be severed. And if we want to become a nation with its own unique identity, ruled by one of its own, then Australia has no choice but to become a Republic. 

“In celebration of my graduation, I have decided not to write a post tonight. Rather I found this following extract which sort of sums up a lot of my feelings, this is dedicated to all my mates which have helped make the last 12 years one of the most amazing experiences of my life:

In Kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In first grade your idea of a good friend was the person who counted the slowest for you when it was your turn at the water fountain.

In second grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully.

In third grade your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the bus.

In fourth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn’t have to be stuck do-si-doing with Nasty Nick or Smelly Susan.

In fifth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In sixth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that is they said “no” you wouldn’t have to be embarrassed.

In seventh grade your idea of a good friend was the person who let you copy the Social Studies homework from the night before that you had.

In eighth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball stuff, but didn’t laugh when you finished and burst into tears.

In ninth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who would go to a party thrown by a senior so you wouldn’t wind up being the only freshman there.

In tenth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who changed their schedule so you would still have someone to sit with at lunch.

In eleventh grade your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn’t be grounded, counseled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan, and found you a date to the prom.

In twelfth grade your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pick out a college/university, assured you that you would get in, and helped you deal with your parents who where having a hard time adjusting to letting you go.

At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside, but managed the biggest smile one could give as they congratulated you on all you had achieved.

The summer after graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you clean up the bottles from that party, helped you sneak out of the house when you just couldn’t deal with your parents, assured you that now you and Nick or Susan were back together you could make it through anything. Helped you pack up for college and just silently hugged you as you looked through misty eyes back at 18 years of memories you where going to leave behind. Finally, on those last days of childhood, went out of their way to give you reassurance that you would make it in college as well as you had the past 18 years, and most importantly, sent you off knowing you were loved.

Now your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you’re scared, helps you fight off those who try to bring you down, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understand when you need to hold onto it for just a bit longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, and most of all, lets you know that you will always be loved. “

Luke

Just a very short message to let you know that Luke’s Daily Drool will no longer be updated daily, however an update will occur at least once a week minimum. I just find that this will be a more sensible way of posting, to ensure that the blog doesn’t just get cluttered with “writing for the sake of writing” so to speak.

On to other news, today was my last day of classes……ever. It was a really great day and the classes, despite the lack of any sort of actual work, was heaps of fun and it was a really fitting end to my school career in a sense. The day went of without a hitch, with no sort of muck up day activities taking place.

My time in boarding was also officially concluded tonight, despite the fact I was staying in the boarding house during exams. We had a small gathering of the boarders where a few words were said aka my speech from the previous post. It was a really nicely done event. Tommorrow is the big day, when my 12 years of schooling officially finishes. Its going to be strange. 

Luke 

Well as I promise here is the transcript of the speech I delivered for the Farewell. This will be my post for this evening.

When Mr Clarkson asked me a few nights ago to write this short speech, I was apprehensive. How would I approach it? How could I possibly sum up the amazing relationships that my fellow Yr 12s and I have formed during our time here. However as the end of my time at Hale and my time in boarding approached, I began to think of all the good times that I have had during my time here. Even though the experiences were all different, they all had a common thread, my friends. Every good memory I have includes the company of at least one of my friends from boarding.

I often get asked by people was it hard moving to a brand new school so late in your school life. Was it hard making friends. To that I can unconditionally answer no. When you become a boarder you become part of this huge thriving community, you never feel on your own. Through forming relationships with both staff and each other, the boarding house can truly become your home away from home, 

Your mates…they make your life worth while. They’re there when you need them and in the case of boarding they’re there when you don’t need them, but they always give you a great time regardless of anything. Friendships that are formed in boarding are hard to explain to those that haven’t experienced. Sure they are friends, but mates in boarding become much more than that. You become more like brothers, more like family. 

Now there are a few lessons that I have learnt throughout my time in boarding. 

Don’t shoot the messenger. Staff members aren’t there to make things hard for you. They are simply trying there best to do what is best for us. There is no point trying to fight against it whenever you get the chance because boarding life is made much easier if you have these people on your side. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. In boarding you are in the unique situation of being within easy reach of people with so many different backgrounds, all who have different strengths and experiences. Don’t be afraid to ask and seek help from people. Make use of those who have strengths where you have weakness. Don’t be afraid to ask that Yr 12 for help with English, or that Yr 11 for help with subject selection. And don’t be afraid to ask  This goes for staff as well. In boarding you are in the unique situation of having teachers of Physics, Maths and Human Biology in easy reach. You have housies who are undertaking law, resource management, teaching and English courses at Uni. Make use of this knowledge to make your life easier.

This follows on from the point I just discussed. Albert Einstein once said“ Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” Boarding is all about having an ‘eco-system’ approach, not an ‘ego-system’ one. In an ‘ego-system’ approach, people think most about their own needs and work to preserve a pristine version of themselves to others. In an ‘eco-system’ approach, you focus on genuinely caring about and showing compassion for others.” Essentially others are more willing to support you if you are willing to support them. 

Life is made up of these relationships. Throughout high school and our time in boarding, we have made many friends. Whether we choose to keep those relationships or not, we must cherish the good and learn from the bad. Life is a learning experience, and it is made a lot easier if you have a supportive group of friends to help though the hard times and help you enjoy the good ones. 

It went really well and people were really happy with it but thats for tomorrow nights post. 

Luke 

Today I was approached by Mr Clarkson (Head of Boarding at Hale) to write a 5ish minute speech on relationships that one forms while living in an environment such as boarding. An epic task I know. How can I possibly sum up the amazing relationships that I have formed in the last 2 years and the effect that they have had on me. It’s going to a pretty epic challenge. In acknowledgement of this epic task tomorrows nights post will be the full text of this speech. 

Today was pretty run of the mill however. The only landmark thing about today was that I had my last ever out door assembly which was a bit sad, but apart from that things really run as usual. 

Luke

In school news, I had my final test EVER today, which was a bit of a weird feeling. But apart from that school was relatively quiet. You can feel the excitement in the air for Friday however, and there is a fair bit of tension. 

In other news, I had an interesting chat with some of my younger friends last night. I was talking to them about mentors and friends and then I asked them what they considered me to be, a friend or a mentor. They continue to surprise me these guys, I have to admit. They decided that I was both a friend and a mentor and created a new word for it, a Frentor. So apparently I am a Frentor. Na it was a really good chat and I realized that these boys really do appreciate all I do for them. 

Only 4 days till graduate, 

Luke 

I have decided that on the weekends I will only do one post for the two days on the Sunday Night which pretty much will sum up my weekend.

Well essentially guys my weekend was how most of my weekends usually are, relatively uneventful but a hell of a lot of fun and yeah just a really good time. I spose I lied a bit when I said it was uneventful. Because it is my last weekend before I officially graduate we had a variety of activities to wind up our time in Wilson House (my pastoral care House) as a group. 

Saturday I went paint-balling for the first time with the majority of the Wilson Year 12s. It was incredibly fun, the thrill and adrenalin that gets pumping makes for a hugely fun day. It didn’t hurt as much as I was told and I only came out with one welt. It can also be surprisingly tactical, with Ms Fordham (my Assistant Head of House) and I doing some pretty advanced tactical maneuvers, covering fire and anything. 

Sunday was my recovery day I spose. It was a fairly hot day (33 degrees) so I ended up just watching a movie with The Trio (Dougal, Lochie and Jack), spent some time at the pool and really just laid around and chilled. This day was probably the most enjoyable however. It really highlighted to me that for something to be enjoyable has as much to do with who you are doing it with as to what you are doing. We had a great time just being able to chill around the pool and yeah it was a really fulfilling day, making our own fun so to speak. 

Hope everyone else had a great weekend.

Luke