Down Under Debrief

I never much rated the Aussies. Loud, arrogant, competitive humans with an unfortunate accent. Ok so I’d never met an actual Australian or visited Australia. Such is the usual case with stereotypes. Since moving to the UK though, I’ve met a number of Aussies. I’ve been mistaken as an Aussie myself. And I recently visited Australia for the first time.

Ok so I can now no longer say that all Aussies are loud, arrogant, competitive humans. The accent…well that’s still unfortunate. Although a dik Afrikaans accent isn’t going to be a sweet serenade either. But I’ve recently come to realise that whilst it’s not just an ocean that divides South Africa from our staunchest South Hemisphere rivals, there is actually way more that unites us. And it’s not just a mutual disdain for sub-par sausages off the grill or a washed-out one-day. We’ve got lots more in common than we give each other credit for.

A sunshine state of mind
We’re both countries where the sun shines more than it doesn’t. Our lifestyle is geared to outdoor adventuring. We fling open our doors and let the sunshine in.

Life’s a beach
The beach is our go-to place. For holidays. For leisure. For life. Sandy enclaves, rock pools, a golden shoreline and waves that peel from a broad horizon of blue.

Sporting attitude
From rugby and running to cricket, hockey and surfing - we’re for sport. It’s how we’re made. It's how we raise our children. It's why they're strong and give it horns.

Our blood runs red, white and rosé
Our countries produce award-winning wine that’s enjoyed across all corners of the world. We raise a glass in times of good, bad and everything in between.

Commonwealth cousins
The British had a lot to do with both of our countries, for better or worse. The colonial charge influenced our history. But it’s never touched the heart of our heritage.

Braai buddies
Our nature is to be open. We're a friendly sort. We're social. We share. You'd struggle to find an Saffa or an Aussie who doesn't like to make a fire and stand around it drinking and talking.

We recently swapped the Queen's land in Britain for Queensland in Australia. We flew to Brisbane. We had little to go on about the place. So we did what we do to get a feel for a city. We walked it. Through vibrant suburbs, past trendy cafés and along the river's edge. We visited artisan food shops and delis. We grabbed takeaway flatties from mobile barista carts before meandering through galleries and museums. The locals were warm, welcoming and friendly. Even Especially after hearing we were South African. We left like shiny, happy people. All loved-up and slightly smitten with a city that hosted us so spectacularly.

Some people describe Brisbane as a 'first world Durban'. But that's not fair. To Brisbane. Or to Durban. There's no place like home. But there's no place quite like Brisbane either.

Brisbane - you beaut.