Lost in a Good Book

The celebration of Australia Day is upon us; a time for relaxation, enjoying the sunshine and to hopefully scoff as many lammies as possible without getting judgement from those around us. To be honest, I am a little over the sunshine. We’ve had scorching heat here the past few weeks, the plants are dying, the grass is dying, and while I know I will upset a few people who had beach plans today, I’m enjoying the overcast morning right now. I had all these ideas in my head about what to post about this year but none of them felt right. In the end, I’ve decided to go all out and offer up this post in three parts: a poem, a shout out, and a giveaway.

The Poem

I want to share with you one of my favourite poems about Australia. It’s one that makes me feel all warm inside and one that I think will bring out the Aussie pride in all of us (in the good, non-violent, non-racist way). I first heard of this poem in 2006 when I caught a segment on Sunrise celebrating the 10th anniversary. I hunted down the poem immediately and printed a copy to put up on my desk. It’s been 11 years and it remains in its place, there for all to see alongside my favourite Jack Prelutsky poem.

The poem is by Rupert McCall as is called Green and Gold Malaria. Those more read in poetry or are a bit older than me may remember it. It was published in 1996 and is a quirky poem that celebrates Aussie pride and the great things about our nation and culture. As much as I like to think it is just a poem, some part of me gets emotional reading it and while it is a bit out of date it still makes me warm and fuzzy inside.

Green and Gold Malaria
by Rupert McCall

The day would soon arrive when I could not ignore the rash.
I was obviously ill and so I called on Doctor Nash.
This standard consultation would adjudicate my fate.
I walked into his surgery and gave it to him straight:
`Doc, I wonder if you might explain this allergy of mine,
I get these pins and needles running up and down my spine.
From there, across my body, I will suddenly extend –
My neck will feel a shiver and the hairs will stand on end.
And then there is the symptom that only a man can fear –
A choking in the throat, and the crying of a tear.’
Well, the Doctor scratched his melon with a rather worried look.
His furrowed brow suggested that the news to come was crook.
`What is it Doc?’ I motioned. `Have I got a rare disease?
I’m man enough to cop it sweet, so give it to me, please.’
`I’m not too sure,’ he answered, in a puzzled kind of way.
`You’ve got some kind of fever, but it’s hard for me to say.
When is it that you feel this most peculiar condition?’
I thought for just a moment, then I gave him my position:
`I get it when I’m standing in an Anzac Day parade,
And I get it when the anthem of our native land is played,
And I get it when Meninga makes a Kiwi-crunching run,
And when Border grits his teeth to score a really gutsy ton.
I got it back in ’91 when Farr-Jones held the Cup,
And I got it when Japan was stormed by Better Loosen Up.
I get it when Banjo takes me down the Snowy River,
And Matilda sends me waltzing with a billy-boiling shiver.
It hit me hard when Sydney was awarded the Games,
And I get it when I see our farmers fighting for their names.
It flattened me when Bertrand raised the boxing kangaroo,
And when Perkins smashed the record, well, the rashes were true blue.
So tell me, Doc,’ I questioned. `Am I really gonna die?’
He broke into a smile before he looked me in the eye.
As he fumbled with his stethoscope and pushed it out of reach,
He wiped away a tear and then he gave me this stirring speech:
`From the beaches here in Queensland to the sweeping shores of Broome,
On the Harbour banks of Sydney where the waratah’s in bloom.
From Uluru at sunset to the Mighty Tasman Sea,
In the Adelaide cathedrals, at the roaring MCG.
From the Great Australian Blight up to the Gulf of Carpentaria,
The medical profession call it “green and gold malaria”.
But forget about the text books, son, the truth I shouldn’t hide.
The rash that you’ve contracted here is “good old Aussie pride”.
I’m afraid that you were born with it and one thing is for sure –
You’ll die with it, young man, because there isn’t and cure.’

The Shoutout

I know this post is already long with the poem, but as a little extra bonus this year I’m also sharing some of my favourite Aussie book bloggers. In past years there has been an Aussie Blog Hop to unite the Aussie blogging world and to celebrate each other, and while this isn’t the case this year, I still wanted to share with you some of my favourite Aussie bloggers right now to spread the love. If you have a favourite Aussie blogger let me know in the comments, I follow so many blogs but I can always follow more!

The Loony Literate

I found Emily when I sent out a call a few years ago for new blogs to follow and Emily shot up her hand. Since then I have been an avid follower on all the platforms and I love getting her posts in my inbox and following her on Twitter and Instagram.

Reasons to follow Emily:

• Her blog posts are fun and informative; she posts reviews, discussions, and has variety in what she writes about
• Her bookstagram is mind blowingly amazing and she includes pictures in her reviews so there’s that to enjoy as well
• Her blog design is gorgeous
• Her cats are adorable
• She is writing a retelling of Alice in Wonderland and judging by the snippets she shares on Twitter, it is amazing and I want to read it right now
• Is the @AusYABlog mod which is also awesome

Twitter | Instagram | Website

The Never Ending Book Shelf

I’ll admit, I may be 101% biased about this because Jess is my best friend, however, I also am objective enough to realise that she is also an amazing blogger. Jess started her blog around the same time I did and in that time she has done some amazing things because of it.

Reasons to follow Jess:

• She reads widely and covers a lot of genres in her reviews
• Her reviews are thorough, thoughtful, a balance of emotion and reasoning about what worked and what didn’t
• She has great blog features and keeps coming up with new and wonderful ideas to celebrate books and share things book related
• Her passion about books is incredible and her support of Aussie authors knows no bounds.
• Her bookstagram pictures are also beautiful and very stylish and creative

Twitter | Instagram | Website

Paper Fury

I can’t recall exactly how I found Cait, but I’d say it was probably through a YA Twitter chat of some kind, or in the replies to another person I follow on Twitter. Either way, very good decision.

Reasons to follow Cait:

• Her reviews and posts are so creative, she writes mini reviews, themed reviews, and has posts about writing and reading and all kinds of cool things
• I like the layout of her reviews as well, it’s different than what I’m used to but it totally works
• Her Bookstagram is incredible
• She has a writing meme called Beautiful People which is so cool where writers can interview their own characters

Twitter | Instagram | Website

I could go on but I won’t, check out my sidebar which has more great blogs. I may need to do a whole post about this because there are some great blogs out there and if I keep going I’ll never stop.

The Giveaway

At last, the end is near. I will make this short and sweet. I am giving ONE lucky person the chance to win a book of their choice by some of my favourite Aussie authors.

To enter: Leave a comment on this blog about something Australian you love – your favourite author, favourite blogger, favourite past time, food, tv show, anything!

This is open to Australian residents only.

Entries close 11:59pm 2nd February, 2017