Holy Trinity Church East Melbourne

Dear Friends,

As we come out of lockdown and breathe long sighs of relief that we can gather together again for worship let’s remember that the battle against the virus is not yet complete. Let us also remember that we are Australians as we try to put the divisions that seem to have arisen between our states behind us. The great poet Henry Lawson wrote a fabulous poem during the first World War called ‘Fighting Hard’ and in it he covers all the states of the Commonwealth but here I will just recite two for us:

Fighting hard for fair Victoria, and the mountain and the glen;

(And the memory of Eureka – there were other tyrants then),

For the glorious Gippsland forests and the

World’s great Singing Star-

For the irrigation channels where the cabbage gardens are –

Fighting hard.

 I particularly love the 5^th stanza which seems almost prophetic in some ways;

Fighting hard for little Tassy,

Where the apple orchards grow;

(And the Northern Territory just to give the place a show),

Fighting hard for Home and Empire, while

The Commonwealth prevails –

And, in spite of all her blunders,

Dying hard for New South Wales.

Dying Hard.

Each stanza amplifies certain characteristics of each state demonstrating Lawson’s great understanding and empathy for this country. It’s a real gem and our prayer might be that our political leaders, in fact all of us might grasp what Lawson saw and get together to fight for this extraordinary and wonderful country. Like much of Lawson it is good natured with a sting and reminds us that all we have, our freedom and wealth comes with hard work and fighting.

We have done well in these various lockdowns and as we rejoice in the coming freedoms let us keep up the fight for all that is good in Australia! Stay safe.

Grant.