The Gold Coast Notebook – Day 11
What you need to know:
- It’s the Aussie culture that when competing together in a race, the first ones across the finish line always wait for the last team-mate to cross the line before leaving.
- So wouldn’t it make sense for one to fuel and drive to numerous water hydrants which dispense free drinking water.
Courtesy of Aussie athletes unmatched
*****
I was struck by the sense of discipline and sportsmanship of Australian athletes here. No wonder they topped the medals table with 198 medals (80 gold, 59 silver and 59 bronze).
It’s the Aussie culture that when competing together in a race, the first ones across the finish line always wait for the last team-mate to cross the line before leaving.
Should one prematurely retire from a race, the tradition would be to remove the official Aussie kit, sign of respect to the national colours.
Local policemen quite courteous
*****
Police in Gold Coast have unrivalled hospitality. The other night, we came across a plainclothes bomb disposal expert from the local police force who stunned us with his hospitality.
First, he bought the three of us a round of beer and then invited us to a nearby disco, where he paid the cover charge and ordered another round of drinks.
In the wee hours, he purchased take-away pizza for us, hailed a taxi, paid the charges and wished us a good morning!
Water here is more expensive than fuel
*****
A loaf of bread in Gold Coast is more expensive than sugar! While loaf of family bread goes for five Australian dollars (Sh385), a kilogramme of sugar sells at one dollar (Sh77).
Meanwhile, drinking water is also more expensive than fuel. A litre of water will set you back three dollars (Sh231) while a litre of petrol at the pump costs 1.2 dollars (Sh92.4).
So wouldn’t it make sense for one to fuel and drive to numerous water hydrants which dispense free drinking water.
Aborigines feel appreciated here
*****
The Australian Aboriginal Yugambeth people were brought very much to the forefront by these games, and given fitting tribute at yesterday’s closing ceremony.
“We are both an ancient and a modern people,” Yugambeth official Clinton Brewer said at the ceremony. “We represent a new generation - responsible for our shared future, for the environment and for living peacefully together on this planet.”
