Un’stralian

There are many times, ok most of the time that I hate being categorised as Gen Y. But by being born in 1983, I don’t really have a say in it. Being Australian on the other hand is something I am quite proud of. A Gen Y-er in the lucky Country, well I really am lucky.

But after driving past King Edward Park (big park in Newcastle) yesterday on our way home from an Australia Day BBQ, I was ashamed to be in the ‘category’ of a Gen Y Australian.

The park was beyond dirty. There were masses of young people, and masses of rubbish. Australian flag cape wearing, beer drinking young Aussie’s who have no respect for the surrounds that they were inhabiting for the day, and no doubt thought that someone else would clean up after them.

It is these people that end up spoiling things for the rest of us. The Newcastle foreshore yesterday was an alcohol free zone “from sunset today, Monday 25 January until sunrise on Thursday 27 January” according to the council website: www.ncc.nsw.gov.au. Furthermore activities were to finish at 6pm and there were NO fireworks.

Why? Because there are people who decide that Australia Day is a great day to get, like, totally pissed, and be a public nuisance, therefore ruining it for well behaved other people to, say, have a BBQ in town on the foreshore, have a few beers, and play a bit of cricket. Aussie? Too right.

But no, you weren’t allowed to. Yep that’s right unless you were in the comfort of your own home having a BBQ, you couldn’t have a beer or an alcoholic drink of any description for that matter if you had a BBQ on the Newcastle foreshore.

I’m the first to bang on about the minority spoiling it for the majority, but after seeing the disgrace that was King Edward Park yesterday, is this getting pissed in public and carrying on business the majority? All I can say is, I really hope not.

It really pains me to ask what the hell this Gen Y thing is that they think they shouldn’t have to clean up after themselves. And if the alcohol ban was all along the Newcastle foreshore then why wasn’t it extended to the park as well? Yes it would have prevented other non flag cape wearers from being able to enjoy a beer, but it sure would have prevented that disgusting disrespectful mess that SOMEONE ELSE had to clean up.

Because at the end of the day despite what some Gen Y-er’s think, getting trashed, wearing a flag as a cape, causing trouble in public and expecting other people to clean up their shit, is totally UNAUSTRALIAN.