ID :
154784
Sat, 12/25/2010 - 16:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/154784
The shortlink copeid
Gillard lauds rescue workers, troops
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has thanked rescue workers battling floods at home and
Australian troops risking their lives overseas for their work on Christmas Day.
"So many people sacrifice their Christmas Day to make life better for others," Ms
Gillard said in her Christmas message.
"It's hard to think of a more generous Christmas present than that."
While revellers in Sydney flocked to the beaches to enjoy the hot, sunny weather,
many Australians had a wet Christmas.
Torrential rain lashed Queensland's far north coast, and heavy rain was expected
from the tip of Cape York to the Gold Coast and inland of the south of the state.
In western NSW a few hundred properties remained isolated on Christmas Day after
recent flooding.
The Wiggles brought Christmas cheer to patients and their families at the Sydney
Children's Hospital, and the Exodus Foundation put on their 25th annual free
Christmas Day lunch for 3000 people at the Reverend Bill Crews' Ashfield church.
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and his son Tom were among the volunteers who
donned aprons to dish out ham, chicken, vegetables and gravy for the throngs of
diners.
"What we're seeing here is the spirit of Christmas," Mr O'Farrell told AAP.
Reverend Crews said the event "began 25 years ago with a plate of sandwiches and two
people turned up".
"He's the closest thing to a Santa that I've seen in this city," Mr O'Farrell said
of Reverend Crews.
Churches reported larger numbers of worshippers at Christmas services this year.
In Melbourne, St Paul's Anglican Cathedral overflowed with more than 2000 people at
its Christmas Eve carols service, and St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral was filled to
capacity for midnight mass with more than 3000 worshippers.
Meanwhile, Santa delighted patients and families at the Royal Children's Hospital
Christmas morning.
Santa arrived at the hospital with an escort of seven fire trucks and gave every
child a gift. He was helped by about 30 Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters,
while the MFB band spread the cheer with carols.
In a televised address to the nation, Ms Gillard said Christmas was a time to
reflect on how lucky Australians were to have each other and their prosperous
nation.
"We are all Australians, all people of this place, and as a people, as a nation, we
have got so much to be grateful for.
"Through it all, there's nowhere I'd rather be. We are still lucky."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he hoped all Australians would become closer to
their loved ones at Christmas.
"I hope we will think of those less fortunate than ourselves," Mr Abbott said.
"I hope we will especially think of all of those people who make our country safer,
stronger and more prosperous.
"They do a good job. We should think of them at Christmas time."
Australian troops in Afghanistan marked Christmas with some fine food and the luxury
of two cans of beer each.
The Queen used her Christmas Day message to emphasise the importance of sport as a
way of building communities and creating harmony, 19 months ahead of the London
Olympics.
"In the parks of towns and cities, and on village greens up and down the country,
countless thousands of people every week give up their time to participate in sport
and exercise of all sorts, or simply encourage others to do so," the Queen said.
"These kinds of activity are common throughout the world and play a part in
providing a different perspective on life."
The importance of games was illustrated by footage of princes William and Harry
playing football with young African orphans from Lesotho.
While heavy snowfalls stopped thousands of travellers in Europe from joining their
families for Christmas, pilgrims flocked to a sun-kissed Bethlehem - bedecked with
lights and inflatable Santas at every corner - to celebrate in the birthplace of
Jesus Christ.
Australia's big department stores are gearing up for a huge Boxing Day, hoping
bargain hunters will surge into stores across the country after flat pre-Christmas
sales.
David Jones general manager of operations Cate Daniels said shoppers could expect
large discounts, especially on summer goods that have not sold over the Christmas
period.
Australian troops risking their lives overseas for their work on Christmas Day.
"So many people sacrifice their Christmas Day to make life better for others," Ms
Gillard said in her Christmas message.
"It's hard to think of a more generous Christmas present than that."
While revellers in Sydney flocked to the beaches to enjoy the hot, sunny weather,
many Australians had a wet Christmas.
Torrential rain lashed Queensland's far north coast, and heavy rain was expected
from the tip of Cape York to the Gold Coast and inland of the south of the state.
In western NSW a few hundred properties remained isolated on Christmas Day after
recent flooding.
The Wiggles brought Christmas cheer to patients and their families at the Sydney
Children's Hospital, and the Exodus Foundation put on their 25th annual free
Christmas Day lunch for 3000 people at the Reverend Bill Crews' Ashfield church.
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and his son Tom were among the volunteers who
donned aprons to dish out ham, chicken, vegetables and gravy for the throngs of
diners.
"What we're seeing here is the spirit of Christmas," Mr O'Farrell told AAP.
Reverend Crews said the event "began 25 years ago with a plate of sandwiches and two
people turned up".
"He's the closest thing to a Santa that I've seen in this city," Mr O'Farrell said
of Reverend Crews.
Churches reported larger numbers of worshippers at Christmas services this year.
In Melbourne, St Paul's Anglican Cathedral overflowed with more than 2000 people at
its Christmas Eve carols service, and St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral was filled to
capacity for midnight mass with more than 3000 worshippers.
Meanwhile, Santa delighted patients and families at the Royal Children's Hospital
Christmas morning.
Santa arrived at the hospital with an escort of seven fire trucks and gave every
child a gift. He was helped by about 30 Metropolitan Fire Brigade firefighters,
while the MFB band spread the cheer with carols.
In a televised address to the nation, Ms Gillard said Christmas was a time to
reflect on how lucky Australians were to have each other and their prosperous
nation.
"We are all Australians, all people of this place, and as a people, as a nation, we
have got so much to be grateful for.
"Through it all, there's nowhere I'd rather be. We are still lucky."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he hoped all Australians would become closer to
their loved ones at Christmas.
"I hope we will think of those less fortunate than ourselves," Mr Abbott said.
"I hope we will especially think of all of those people who make our country safer,
stronger and more prosperous.
"They do a good job. We should think of them at Christmas time."
Australian troops in Afghanistan marked Christmas with some fine food and the luxury
of two cans of beer each.
The Queen used her Christmas Day message to emphasise the importance of sport as a
way of building communities and creating harmony, 19 months ahead of the London
Olympics.
"In the parks of towns and cities, and on village greens up and down the country,
countless thousands of people every week give up their time to participate in sport
and exercise of all sorts, or simply encourage others to do so," the Queen said.
"These kinds of activity are common throughout the world and play a part in
providing a different perspective on life."
The importance of games was illustrated by footage of princes William and Harry
playing football with young African orphans from Lesotho.
While heavy snowfalls stopped thousands of travellers in Europe from joining their
families for Christmas, pilgrims flocked to a sun-kissed Bethlehem - bedecked with
lights and inflatable Santas at every corner - to celebrate in the birthplace of
Jesus Christ.
Australia's big department stores are gearing up for a huge Boxing Day, hoping
bargain hunters will surge into stores across the country after flat pre-Christmas
sales.
David Jones general manager of operations Cate Daniels said shoppers could expect
large discounts, especially on summer goods that have not sold over the Christmas
period.
