Hi Christian,
Love your show !
Yesterday, my wife and I went to the Parramatta blood bank to donate. When we arrived, the queue was outside huge, and it took us an hour and a half just to get to the reception desk.
In the queue was almost every nationality and occupation represented. Arabic, Indian, Korean, Aussie tradies, young girls in active wear, executives, folks from every walk of life all there together. A short elderly couple – with the husband wearing his yarmulka, had been unable to give blood at Bondi, so had driven all the way to again wait in a queue.
My wife had a young Chinese Dad behind her also waiting and as we slowly proceeded up the stair one by one, and as is often the case a sense of ‘Oneness’ and camaraderie developed amongst us.
The man in front of me had taken time off work to donate and was wearing an Indigenous printed ‘Sloppy Joe’ over his work clothes which were very clearly ‘The Thin Blue Line’. I asked him how he was travelling, particularly due to his line work and he quietly said -“the Rabbi that died was our Chaplain”.
After waiting in the queue the officer was told he would have to come back tomorrow at 7am. He replied “No problem – see you then”
This to me epitomised not only how many from so many different callings were affected by this event and how we can all stand together and do what we can to help, but also the palpable grief that was visible in the waiting queue. Still, everyone patiently waited to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
Australia is a wonderful country and I am proud to be an Australian.
- Brad Stokes, Sydney NSW
