By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
CLIFF Matthews says it how it is.
“Australia is the best country in the world”, and he knows that off by heart.
Arriving in Australia from India nine years ago, Cliff has since made a life for himself and his family of four in Hampton Park.
And he has been attending the Hampton Park Progress Association ‘Day of Nations’ Australia Day carnival every year since he got here.
“I am proud to be Australian,” Cliff said and he’s proud to feel it too.
“When you come to Australia you are Australian,” he said.
“You leave all your differences behind and baggage and you can come here and start new.”
And with Australia Day being a time to reflect and appreciate life on Aussie shores, Cliff said there’s only one way to truly do that.
“You have to leave Australia to know what you are missing,” he said.
“I’ve got friends and family all around the world and I know that you have to leave Australia to value it.”
With much chatter surrounding the wording of the National Anthem, Cliff said he hoped to see the Seekers ‘I am Australian’ reach worldwide audiences.
“I think it should replace Advance Australia Fair, I’d prefer it, because we are all from different countries,” he said.
Enjoying the cultural display of dance and song at the annual Australia Day event, Cliff said it was truly “amazing” how many different nationalities made up the Land Down Under.
“Today is a great time to appreciate different cultures,” he said.
And with an indigenous Maori performance and the City of Casey’s Pipe Band delighting audiences, Hampton Park was the right place to spend it.
