The Real Cornish Online Magazine - Cornish Story

PlacesGwav Winter 2010Christmas in AustraliaBy Colin D. RobertsGwav Winter 2010Places‘Christmas in Australia is Christmas in Paradise………’ or so the popular Australian song goes,but is it really true? In total, I had 22 Christmases in Australia and can remember most.Firstly, it’s worth reflecting on what it is to be aCornish person in Australia. In the UK and even inCornwall many people still don’t get the regionaldistinctiveness and separate identity the Cornishfeel. Not so Downunder, they totally get it as wehelped shape and develop the country’s modernhistory. I can remember many times in a pubsomewhere when someone would ask “you aPommy?” “No” I’d say,”I’m Cornish” that usuallymeant I was forgiven and bought a beer!The Cornish went out in droves during the midEighteenth century as the mines were dryingup home here. Firstly to mine copper in SouthAustralia and later, more widely, but particularlyin Central Victoria, to mine gold. It’s far easierbeing Cornish in Australia than it is in Cornwall attimes.The first thing you have to note about Christmasin Australia is that it’s bloody hot! I remember anumber of Christmases in Queensland where itis hot and humid. Increasingly the locals up therehave a seafood and ham salad as it’s too hot tocook, or perhaps the proverbial shrimp on theBarbie. But when I went up there with family, asI did perhaps four or five times, it was the fullTurkey roast, Cornish style. I can well remembersweating over the stove to get the meal on thetable on time, cooking for perhaps eight or sopeople. They thought I was mad but enjoyed thedinner just the same.Now, back in Victoria, where I spent mostChristmases it was different. There was littleor no humidity but it was a damn sight hotter– often well into the forties. In Melbourneduring the summer months you never open thewindows or doors as you want to keep the heatout. But I remember this one Christmas day whenit was so hot that I had to as although it was fortyodd outside, the kitchen temperature, with mecooking the full turkey dinner, was 50!I also remember one year when the weatherwas hot and we decided to have more of a buffetoutside in the back garden and had lots of friendsover. It was an evening meal this year and we eatand drank and generally enjoyed ourselves. Itgot hotter as the evening went on and then all ofsudden got very dark. A huge storm cloud cameover and when it broke the most amazing electricstorm took place over us. The rain was so hardthat we had to move into the shed and watch thetable and the remnants get ruined.Another memorable hot one was when we weredown the road at friends for the evening. Again,and surprisingly, the evening got hotter as it wenton and a strong North wind was blowing hot airdown off the desert. At midnight it reached 38degrees and was almost unbearable. Mind you,we were daft enough to be outside when mostsensible people were indoors with the air conon. Luckily, the kids had been bought giant waterpistols for Christmas and they had a pool so wesent them fully loaded up on the balcony to fireon us to cool us down.The usual image of Christmas in Australia isdinner on the beach, especially Bondi Beach inSydney. Does it happen? Well, yes it does, thebeaches are often crowded on Christmas Day asrevellers take advantage of the ocean to keepcool, but I think it’s less the locals and more likeEuropean visitors wanting to live the dream andsend the photo’s back home.Is it better than Christmas in Cornwall? Well nobut it’s different – I always feel sorry for myriadSanta’s parading in the shopping strips in theunbearable heat but still in full costume! Boy dothey earn their money!I go out there for ten days in three sleeps(Australian term) time to see my sons beforeChristmas but look forward to returning toCornwall to spend Christmas with my wife, Alison.32 Cornish Story MagazineCornish Story Magazine 33