Lucky country

I am occasionally reminded that despite our many complaints we in Australia live in a lucky country. As distant as we are from many of the world's hot spots we don't escape entirely the high security measures so prevalent in these days of terrorism fears. But there are exceptions.

Yesterday I attended the matinee performance of Australian Opera's production of 'Aida'. Also in the audience was the popular New South Wales' Governor, Professor Marie Bashir. She appeared to be accompanied by two family members but there was not a security officer nor a uniformed and braided Aide de Camp in sight.

The rows in the Sydney Opera House are fifty or so seats wide and Professor Bashir's seat was bang in the middle of one of them. Just like any other patron, Professor Bashir made her way past dozens of other audience members at every production break cheerfully acknowledging each as she passed by.

I liked that we weren't made to engage in a vice regal rendition of 'God Save The Queen' as happened once when I attended a staging of Swan Lake in the presence of a previous Governor-General.