I once loved my country! Gary J. Matthews

I remember back in 1968 living in Brisbane, that the 3 major cities back then were

Sydney. Melbourne & Adelaide.

And Adelaide was the Industrial City.
Adelaide - South Australia was were you went to work in the Iron Ore Industry

or where you could get a job making railway tracks for B.H.P.

You could get a job building ships, submarines, cars, washing machines, fridges,

TV’s, Hills hoists, Victa Lawn Mowers, or make tyres at Bridgestone tyres.
Lightburn Washing Machine Company even made a car called a Zeta.

It was not much of a car but at least it was Australian and we built it.
I worked at Stanvac where we made our own Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene and Oil.

We had Oil Rigs in Bass Straight, North West Shelf and the Timor Sea.
We even had Australian owned Service Stations like (H.C. Sleigh) Golden Fleece and

many of us young wanna-be mechanics back then worked as a driveway attendant.

I remember catching a train from the city to Gawler and then on to Freeling, Hamley Bridge, Stockport, Riverton, up to Clare, Gladstone, Laura etc.

And all these towns were bustling with activity and on the weekends they were all open for business.
Our shops were filled on every shelf with food and products all proudly made or grown in Australia.

Our fridge was full of Lamb Chops and Steaks because it was cheap as we were a huge

Lamb and Beef growing Nation.

And once a month Mum would make us all a delicacy!

It was called a Sunday Roast Chook.

I remember when we all had trade skills and high quality tools that would last and last.
But most of all we had Mates. We as Australians watched each other’s backs even if we had not met yet, and we all said G’Day to everyone with a smile.
Our kids could go anywhere they liked on their bikes just as long as they were home before dark.

Australia was pretty safe back then.
Yes Australia was once a self-supporting nation that had it all.

It had Farms that produce our dairy, fruit & vegies and meats etc.

And Politicians back then were known as statesmen and they were voted by the people

for the people on behalf of the people and did what the people wanted.
We had public utilities owned by us the people that guaranteed our

Electricity, Water and Sewage forever.
No one knew how much the Snowy Mountain Scheme cost, we just built it.
No one knew how much the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Indian-Pacific railway cost!

WE JUST BUILT IT!

Then came CORPORATE GREED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now everything above has GONE.
Now we don’t watch each other’s backs anymore but watch each other through security bars, burglar alarms, and security screens.
Now we dob each other in.
Now we import poor quality processed food
Now we import cheap tools that break just taking them out of the packet they come in.
Now we rely on ships to bring in our fuels.
Now we can’t afford our own Lamb or Beef anymore
Now we eat steroid pumped chicken just about every day.
Now we import trade skill workers on 457 Visa’s
Now we have high unemployment as nearly all of our Industry and Manufacturing has gone offshore.
Now we have that many Laws that we have just about outlawed ourselves.