I’d barely been listening to my brother, so I simply raised my brows and shrugged at him, earning me a sigh.
“Australia Day,” he clarified.
“Oh, right. Well, if this rain carries on, I can’t imagine the fair being able to take place, or at least not in its same format.”
Every year, the region put on a big celebration for Australia Day. It started with poetry and stories from local Elders in the showgrounds, and a big breakfast. After that, there was a heap of indigenous activities taking place, along with family fun. The evening then finished with some localish bands, with the bar opening from six, followed by fireworks at eight.
This year was slightly different, though. The fireworks had been cancelled. The money usually spent was going into a couple of charities collecting for those impacted by the fires. And other charity-focussed events were going on too.
I knew the earlier stuff would occur in the community centre, but I wasn’t sure how many bodies could fit in with the family events or music.
A couple of people on the Australia Day committee had tried to rope me in to help, and I was relieved, even more so now, considering the weather, that I wasn’t involved.
“I definitely want to attend the poets’ breakfast, but maybe we talk to Mum and Dad about after that having a quiet one at theirs? Put the barbie on. We can all bring a plate and drinks.”
After the manic few weeks we’d had, Dan and Craig especially, the thought of a more subdued celebration held appeal.
Craig nodded immediately. “Yeah. I like the sound of that. I’ll text Mum.”
“Thanks.” I was more than happy for him to organise that with her. “You’ll come, right, Alec?”
“Deffo. And if Uncle George is doing a reading, I’ll be there for the breakfast thing too. That guy is the best.”
I grinned, agreeing wholeheartedly. Uncle George was an indigenous Elder and an incredible storyteller. He visited the school at least five times a year, participating in assemblies, and adding additional support to the indigenous students in our school. I had unlimited time and respect for the man.
“I might invite Brie and her wife too,” I said. Today at work, she’d sat with Alec and me for lunch. She and her wife and their six-year-old son had moved from Cairns over the summer. Right in the middle of the nightmare fires we’d been having.
They hadn’t had the greatest start to moving a couple of thousand kilometres away, and they had no family or friends in the near vicinity.
I understood why some people would need a fresh start, assuming that’s what their move was. But I imagined it could be lonely as hell, even as a family.
“Good idea,” Alec said. “I’m interested in meeting Hannah. Just from what Brie said about her today, she sounds good fun.”
I laughed. “You just want her to join the netball team.”
He shrugged, not denying it one bit. Alec was a hardcore netball player on the mixed-gender team we had in town.
I’d been and watched them play a few times, and each time came away terrified and looking at every player differently. Fuck, they were scary as hell.
“I’ll let Mum know. Just confirm with her if it’s a yes.” Craig turned his attention back to his phone.
“How about your parents?” I asked Dan. They’d been down south travelling in their caravan for months now and were heading back home. Alan and Hazel had taken early retirement a few years ago after Hazel had sold her successful business. Every now and then, they’d pop back up in town. Nobody was really sure when, or at least not until their only son returned.
“I’ll ask them. They’re due back Sunday, I think.”
Australia Day fell on a Wednesday this year, giving us a nice midweek break.
“Did you have a busy day at work?” Dan asked me.
“A bit. No meetings today, which was a relief, but it’s always manic as teachers are organising their term, sourcing books and such.”
“And no issues?” His eyes held mine, waiting for my answer.
I smiled softly. “All’s good. No issues at all, and there won’t be.”
Dan waited for a beat or two, as if taking the time to read my expression and hear the truth in my words. A moment later, he nodded. “Good. My next couple of days are going to be full-on,” he grumbled. “We have to drive all the way to Hill Creek for a kitchen fit-out.”
I winced. “That’s a hell of a trek.”
