Paying tribute to Aussies

Jan 31, 2019

Avenel Primary School principal Neil O’Sullivan came to Avenel the long way.

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Originally from Ireland, he and a friend arrived in Perth 22 years ago, swapping an Irish winter for a 42°C day.

Getting over the initial shock and paying tribute ‘‘to a country that chills its beer glasses’’, Mr O’Sullivan eventually found his way to Melbourne where he worked on construction sites.

He was struck by the generosity of Australians to foreigners and he still is to this day, marvelling even now at the ‘‘casual, no-biggie generosity’’ that Australians often don’t even think about.

After growing up in an Ireland that had suffered from one economic set-back after another, he marvelled at the social mobility he found here in Australia.

If someone was willing to put in the work and make the effort, he saw that it was possible to change and find a better place.

This was the main theme of Mr O’Sullivan’s speech at the Avenel Australia Day ceremonies.

Mr O’Sullivan joked about donning ‘‘shamrock coloured glasses’’ but he was an ideal Australia Day Ambassador.

By McPherson Media Group