Kurt Bandy, aged 13, Australia
I live in Barellan, a small rural town in the central west of New South Wales that has been in drought for the past six years. Any sign of rain brightens spirits and brings cause for much celebration. This small, friendly town has a population of only about 360. I think this is great as we all know each other and people are always more than willing to lend a hand in tough times.
I am currently a Year Seven student at our local Barellan Central School which is unique as it caters for students from kindergarten to year 12. Ten students is an average class size. Students in years 11 and 12 are taught via an access program where students from four schools hundreds of kilometres apart are brought together by modern technology to discuss and study subject material.
For a big day at school I rise at roughly 7:30am and walk or ride my bike to school. The day consists of six one-hour periods commencing at 9am and finishing at 3:30pm. The subjects I study include English; Maths; Science; Music; Japanese; Human Society and its Environment; Personal Development, Health and Physical Education; and Information and Software Technology (computers).
After school I am involved in swimming training (in summer), karate, tennis, guitar lessons, football training, both Australian Football and Rugby League and generally listening to music on my iPod and catching up with mates.
On weekends and during the holidays, the activities I like to do are motorbike riding, riding the ripstick (a two-wheel skateboard), yabbying in dams, fox shooting, feeding sheep for my uncle and helping dad change tyres, water skiing (summer), karate tournaments, playing football, going to horse events such as camp drafting, gymkhanas and team penning, watching my cousins compete in rodeos and catching up with family and friends (and the odd fly) over a snag by the barbecue.
In Australia, we are preparing to commemorate the ANZAC spirit as the Commonwealth celebrates its 60th birthday. As a young Australian the Commonwealth signifies to me the friendship and loyalty that we can always find in our allegiance with our fellow Commonwealth nations. In the World Wars and in many other conflicts right up to the ‘War on Terror’ today, Australia has stood by her ‘mother country’ and fought for freedom, for the good of the Commonwealth and our country.
I also have strong personal links to the Commonwealth through my heritage as in my mother’s side of the family we have Scottish, Irish and English ties. Much of our etiquette, moral values and social behaviours are the consequence of being part of the Commonwealth. Also our legal and government systems share many qualities. Our country also benefits from the elite sporting competition that comes in the form of the Commonwealth Games. This event comes around every four years and develops strong sportsmanship and is a platform to showcase our elite athletes. The young people of today, who are our leaders of the future, will have their outlook shaped by our links with the Commonwealth. With more than half of the population of the Commonwealth aged less than 25, these views will be with is for a long time to come.
In Australia, not only are we another country in the world but we are part of a family on a global scale, and the Commonwealth, she will always be with us through thick and thin.
