AUSTRALIA DAY 26 JANUARY

 So 256 years ago Captain Cook planted the English flag in Sydney Cove and claimed the land for England. It wasn't until 18 years later that the first settlers arrived in eleven ships with Captain Arthur Phillip in charge. Most of the settlers were convicts and Marines. After a very hard start when the settlement nearly starved waiting for supply ships  from England, things slowly improved and our wonderful nation was born. Every Jan 26 we celebrate Australia Day. Many people have parties and BBQ's. Many go to the beach and others go to special luncheon functions. Unfortunately, the weather is extremely hot especially in the south, Adelaide and Northern Victoria are expecting temps in the 40's C. We are also having hot humid weather here in Brisbane. Our village is putting on an afternoon of activities and a sausage sizzle. Hopefully things will cool down by then. Luckily, our hall is air conditioned. 

So we started off singing Aussie songs like this one:

Then we played games:

Thong throwing. (In Australia a thong is a flip flop not underwear) We had to get it into a bucket. Prizes were given to the winner.

We played ball games that I can remember playing at school.

We had an Australian Trivia Quiz. Our table did very well but we didn't win. We were entertained by the line dancers.

We finished up with a sausage sizzle dinner. Sausage, bacon, onions and cheese in a hot dog roll.

The party was organised by the social committee and the food prepared by the Workshop Boys. The bar is manned by volunteers. It was a good night of fun.