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Each time I visit Australia, I have the same thought: "If I were 30 years younger, I"d move here!"
In fact, we almost did. Forty years ago my father had wanted to take
advantage of the assisted-passage program offered by the Australian
government, through which British people could move to Australia for
just 10 British pounds. What finally put him off the idea was Australia"s
presence in Vietnam. He did not want to lose any of his six sons fighting
a war he strongly opposed.
But many Australians did die in Vietnam. Australians also made the ultimate sacrifice, dying in great numbers, particularly in World War I and World War II. The country also sent its soldiers to Korea and more recently to the first Persian Gulf War. Australians now serve alongside their American and British allies in Iraq.
It"s ironic: Australians inhabit the one continent that has not experienced war, yet their record in fighting for freedom is second to none—especially when you consider the country"s relatively small population. Australia is the only nation in the world that fought in World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and the two Persian Gulf conflicts against Iraq from beginning to end. When it comes to the ongoing defense of the Western world, Australia truly is an underappreciated country.
Australia is a relatively new country. British settlement of the island continent did not begin until after the United States was formed as an independent nation. The first European settlers sailed into Botany Bay in 1788.
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