It’s hard to watch the news,

As another tragedy unfolds.

It’s hard to look at the faces,

Of whose story must be told.

 

So much hate and destruction,

Sadness and aching grief.

There’s overwhelming darkness,

Using hatred as its thief.

 

It would be easy to be dragged,

Down, down, down into the hate.

To throw our hands in the air,

To eat what they’ve given us as bait.

 

But then I walk outside,

And I breathe in our country air,

From the gum trees of the river bank,

To the winter’s ocean bare.

 

And I remember we’re the lucky ones,

Because we still get to choose,

If we want to be looking at the stars,

Or staring down at our shoes.

 

So I start looking up,

And you wonder what I see?

I see that goodness is everywhere,

It’s in him and her, you and me.

 

There’s goodness in the tradie,

Who waits to hold the door.

There’s goodness in the doctor,

Who says ‘bring your child once more.’

 

There’s goodness in the neighbour,

Bringing milk when you’re in need.

There’s goodness in the pharmacist,

Whose advice you warmly heed.

 

There’s goodness in the shopkeeper,

Who’s smiling at your child,

Even when it’s clear to them,

They’ve gone completely wild.

 

There’s goodness in the friend,

Who drops in just for a chat,

And in the stranger’s welcome face,

Whose dog would like a pat.

 

There’s goodness in the banter,

Of opposition teams.

It’s in the voice of a teacher,

Who nurtures children’s dreams.

 

There’s goodness in the nod,

Of the old man walking by.

It’s there in the love,

Of a tired mother’s sigh.

 

There’s goodness in the nurse,

Who squeezes your shaking hand,

When they sense that the pain,

Is more than you can stand.

 

There’s goodness in the volunteers,

Fighting fires every day.

Leaving their jobs and families,

For only thanks as pay.

 

So I know that there are those,

Who ignite the flame of hate.

But how lucky we can choose,

With whose values we relate.

 

I know it takes more than kindness,

To make the world go round,

But I’d rather be searching for the moon,

Then digging in the ground.

 

Just a smile or a g’day,

Or do you need a hand?

Is all that it takes,

To let goodness make a stand.

 

It doesn’t matter where you come from,

Who you love, or if you pray,

Just make a choice to be kind,

When you step outside each day.

 

Because we are still the lucky ones,

Who wake each morning here.

In this sun drenched country of ours,

The Australia we hold so dear.