Driftwood, flood debris and a bit of Aussie humour on this Australia Day 2011

So much as happened in the last few weeks with the wild weather culminating in the perilous drama of floods and cyclones. It was refreshing to see we have retained our sense of humour.  On Australia Day, whilst walking along the Brighton foreshore, I happened along a strange sight and being rather inquisitive, I just had to get a closer look.  I approached this unusual sight, wondering what this pile of junk was all about.  I soon realized it was some kind of art work, a sand sculpture, made up of a collection of items from the sea, the flotsam and jetsam of people’s lives that had been washed up and created into something quite thought provoking and meaningful.  A map of Australia fashioned in the sand highlighted with an ochre tint to make it stand out, the flag of Australia on top of the pile shouted out "Its Australia Day!".   There was a terracotta pot, a float from a crab pot and part of a dolls house, a couple of chairs, and the obligatory thong, left foot of course, which always seems to appear on the high tide mark on many a beach, and someone’s fishing rod with a pottery fish attached.  The comical whimsy of this brought a smile to my face.  The addition of a beach towel, a note book and a couple of cards were the finishing touches placed there by the creator, whoever they were. 

Janette Whitehead

Library Technician - John Oxley Library