“I Am Australian”
I came from the dreamtime
From the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart
The keeper of the flames
I Stood upon the rocky shore
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I’ve been the first Australian
I came upon the prison ships
Bound down by iron chains
I cured the land
Endured the lash
And waited for the rains
I’m a settler
I’m a farmers wife
On a dry and barren run
A convict and a free man
I became Australian
I’m a daughter of a digger
Who sought the mother load
The girl became a women
On the long and dusty road
I’m a child of the depression
I saw the good time come
I’m a bushy I’m a battler
I am Australian
We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We’ll share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian
I’m a teller of stories
I’m a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
And I paint the ghostly gums
I’m Clancy on his horse
I’m Ned Kelly on the run
I’m the one who waltzed matilda
I am Australian
I’m the hot wind from the desert
I’m the black soil of the plain
I’m the mountains and the valleys
I’m the drowned and flooding rains
I am the rock
I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am Australian
We are one
But we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We’ll share a dream
And sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian
These are the lyrics to a well known song called “I am Australian” (also known as We are Australian) which was written in 1987 by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers and Dobe Newton of The Bushwackers.
A very patriotic song – often taught in primary schools and has even been one of the songs considered to replace our National Anthem
A very haunting version of this was sung today by Katie Noonan at the Australian National Day Of Mourning Service for the MH17 victims at St Patricks Cathedral, in Melbourne, Victoria.
There were 38 people onboard who called Australia home
16 of them were from Victoria
Today we are especially remembering them
(but also thinking about the other 260 who were onboard and their families)
Still Waters 
G’day Cathy. Beautiful words for a beautiful country. Yes, we remember not only the Australians who died, but those from all countries. Take care. Liz…
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A sad sad day. Thoughts and prayers with the families. May they all find peace soon
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Very moving. Our thoughts are with all the families affected by this dreadful event.
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What lovely words for a country. Yes a sad day indeed.
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Lovely and very moving.
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Very poignant Cathy. I,m going to listen to the song later because I,m on my IPad and in company just now. Thank you for the beautiful poem/song, which I intend to keep.
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Terrific post. The other passengers were mostly from The Netherlands. The service came on to the radio with a minister of religion banging on, Archbishop Hart perhaps. Seems I may have missed some moving music.
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very sad
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Absolutely beautiful. Aussies are great people.
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Thank you for the reminder and the song.
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Thank you for this post. Sad occasion, lovely rendition of the song. I found the video of Katie Noonan singing the song at the service. What a beautiful voice.
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So much sadness and tragedy in the world right now, and this song has tears running down my face. For all who died too soon at the hands of terrorists, my heart goes out to their families. Thanks for sharing this, Cathy.
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