MANS OTHER BEST FRIEND IS A QUEENSLANDER

There have always been a million reasons for New South Welshmen to be slightly envious of our siblings from the north. Upon examination, and resisting all arguments based on some territorial rivalry, there can be no argument that the quality of Queensland is proving superior in so many aspects.
Cathy Freeman, Steve Irwin, Shane Watson, Grant Hackett, Stephanie Rice and Pat Rafter.
All Queenslanders. And those unbeatable Maroons. Also, all Queenslanders. Well that isn't totally accurate. Greg Inglis emmigrated through the no-mans-land of Tweed Heads, crouched in a gold plated suit case, in a hidden compartment of Wayne Bennet's car. Waking from a daze at the feet of a bronze Wally Lewis, confused and frightened, Inglis was welcomed by the locals and....well you know the rest.
Either way, Queensland definitely boasts an embarrassment of riches.

Living in New South Wales, the only thing more exciting than the March election, and the end of the state Labour government, is the thought of the inevitable Underbelly series starring Lisa McCune as Kristina Keneally and Mick Molloy as Joe Tripodi.
Jaded by a NSW Labour government that has raped its once proud people of prosperity and dignity it was amazing to watch the Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, speak with such honesty, sincerity and empathy as mother nature swallowed up her beautiful state. I have no doubt her demeanor stirred her people, and indeed the country, into action.
Although credit for the military precision and organisation of the recovery would have to be placed on the shoulders of one Major-General Mick Slater, Bligh has been a beacon of humanity in Queensland's darkest hour.

The willingness of every Australian to extend their open wallets to the cause was, although not surprising, a source of immense national pride. Queenslanders took the hand gratefully and, on the day now forever known as Salvation Saturday, declared 'We'll take it from here.' People from around the country, and indeed around the world, saw a community mobilise to help out friends they'd never met.
And as the media vans roll south for the next big story, and Queensland is left to rebuild itself out of the spotlight of headline news, I know they will create a state, prouder and stronger than the one now burried in sludge.
The people of Brisbane, Toowomba, Ipswich and other towns most of us have never heard of before, have reminded us all what it is to be an Australian. To understate any situation. To appreciate what we have despite the loss of so much. And that strange juxtaposition of a willingness to help others and instinctual reluctance to accept help for ourselves.


I've always been amused to to hear Sydneysiders and Melbourners discuss the pros and cons of each others city, desperately trying to find that one aspect of lifestyle that would finally prove once and for all, which is the greatest city in Australia. Amusing not just for the simple fact that as a lifelong resident of country NSW, I wouldn't ever want to live in either city, but in the sheer arrogance in assuming that it was a race in two.

The people of Brisbane have never entered the argument. I now know it was never a case that they didn't believe their city was the equal of Australia's larger capitals. Perhaps the people of Brisbane have always been content to leave Sydney and Melbourne to their delusions because they knew what the rest of us are starting to understand. That it's not the size of the stadium that matters. What's important is how many XXXX drinking, twang talking, Lockyer worshipping, redneck yokel Queenslanders you can fill it with. Sorry, old habits die hard.

Until next time.