Money Well Spent

I can’t think of a time when I was prouder, I’m sure you were too.

So, they tell us we are amongst the ‘leaders’ in the world when it comes to flattening the curve and doing the right thing. Just like the cleaning spray that says ‘kills 99% of germs’, we’ve had 99% of people jump on the flattening train, our performance has been a benchmark for other nations to envy. But, just like the 1% of germs that don’t get smashed by the spray, the 1% of non-conformists have the potential to ruin it for all of us, with the possibility for the curve to spike again, just because a few selfish people ‘need’ to go the beach, or hold a birthday gathering for their kid, or sneak out of the quarantine, or go camping. Sheesh. Imagine how even further ahead of the curve we’d be if (i) some nincompoop hadn’t let that ship dock and let all the passengers loose and (b) if the people who think their poo doesn’t stink (see my last two columns) could just abide by the rules set by the experts and do what is asked of them. Ok, that’s it – off the soap box.

A big hello to all those mums and dads out there who have ploughed money, time and effort into supporting and encouraging their kids to learn a musical instrument. We did it for all three of ours, with the first two enjoying the ride, but not showing much passion (or great potential, if I can say that in the nicest way). Number three however took to the musical world like a duck to water, meaning the dollars invested in lessons, instruments and other opportunities became more than just loose change over the past 14 years.

We are really pleased that he’s going continue in his tertiary life with some musical pursuits. However yesterday morning, like many parents with a ‘musical’ kid, one single moment in time made every cent and every hour invested in music lessons worthwhile. Who would have believed that standing out the front of your house, on the road, at 5:55am in the dim and foggy ANZAC dawn light would mean so much? Literally thousands of youngsters across the country hopped on the website in the days leading up to the 25th, to download the correct music for their instrument of expertise. From trumpets, to saxophones, to violins, to guitars, to keyboards, to harmonicas, the music had been transposed to suit every instrument. A whole nation was together alone for about 20 minutes as we stood 1.5 metres apart out the front, firstly listening to a kid play The Last Post, then honouring our fallen with a minutes’ silence. Some read The Ode, then the joyous sounds of Reveille could be heard wafting across towns everywhere as we held back the tears and the sun rose stunningly in the East.

I’m sure many other parents were exactly the same as me on Saturday morning … thinking that if my kid never picked up his instrument again, he done us proud, his country proud, and that the efforts in getting them up and running with an instrument had been worth every single cent.

I’m sure next year we’ll all go back to gathering at the cenotaphs to pay our respects on ‘The One Day of the Year’. Part of me is kinda hoping we’ll all still be in isolation, so this new ANZAC tradition can happen all over again. I wonder if somehow we could allow all the kids to bring their instruments along to the ANZAC services next year, and join in as one as the Bugler belts out The Last Post?

Well done mums and dads, your investments paid off. And very well done to all you talented young ladies and men – we are in awe of you and what you did to honour those who went ahead of you.