Aussies dampen the Australia Day brekkie

I had the opportunity to attend an Australia Day breakfast in a Perth suburb this year.

Incredibly well-organised and run by the local Lions club, it catered for a huge crowd.

No idea of numbers, but was glad I arrived early to the breakfast queue.

There are only a few things that, in my opinion, could have improved it and most are related to the public in attendance, many of whom seem to have lost any form of respect for formal aspects of such an occasion.

Everyone should be able to enjoy themselves on Australia Day, but a show of respect for a short period while formal events take place shouldn’t be hard.

Sure, bring the family from young to old and even bring the family dog — why not?

Well one reason not to bring the pooch is if they aren’t sociable with other dogs.

Fighting, snapping, snarling dogs are annoying and, in some cases, downright dangerous.

Another reason is if they can’t be kept quiet for a brief period of time.

Trying to listen to speeches over the raucous barking of numerous dogs is, to say the least, downright annoying.

Do you really need your mobile phone on during the ceremonial part of the day?

If so, put it on silent or, if you aren’t expecting an urgent call or wanting to take photos, turn it off.

Heck, maybe leave it home as I did.

One young woman not only had hers on during the speeches but anybody within a bull’s roar of her could hear the conversation.

It certainly didn’t sound urgent, but it echoed out across the ground as she strode from one place to another.

A tip for organisers, too. If you are going to have children, maybe scouts/girl guides sing the national anthem, please give them some microphones so we can all hear them.

It takes a fair bit of courage to stand up on occasions like this and sing for a huge crowd.

We know they did a brilliant job but we would really like to have heard them.

Finally, let’s think about recycling, a huge issue in Australia.

Why is it necessary to hand out hundreds of plastic flags to those attending Australia Day?

I’m sure most are made in China, of some form of plastic and are rarely kept by anyone for the following year. Can we please find an alternative?