Travelled up to Whittlesea where the community is holding various events to build some spirit in the wake of the bushfires. A Lions Club has arranged a family fun day for the emergency service volunteers.
Jumping castles, big slides, face painting, games... you get the picture. Pretty average but we'll wrap it with similar events being covered by the ABC at Knox and Pakenham.
Schoolkids from Sunshine have been wrangled onto stage to sing the national anthem and make a speech thanking the firies.
The anthem goes well despite the efforts of the sound guy who manages three separate and distinct blunders in a few bars of music. Then the two designated 10 year olds step forward for the speech. Kid Two has her words clutched in front of her on a script. Kid One elects to rely on memory.
Big mistake. Huge.
She gets two pars in, and freezes. She is blank. Her mates can't help her and she is dying on stage. She presses bravely forwards but her words trail off. She repeats a line but is utterly, irretrievably lost.
The audience is deathly quiet, feeling for her, but struck silent. One of the organisers shouts encouragement, then gently suggests she pass the mic to her companion. She does so, then covers her face with her little hands.
It is heartbreaking.
Kid Two delivers a sweet, word perfect speech. The ceremony concludes; the kids scatter. Some gather to comfort their wounded mate.
I can help in only one way. I take her aside and interview her, one-on-one, for my story. She speaks beautifully, sincerely, without the pressure of recitation.
About 50 people saw her stumble on stage. 494,000 saw her shine on TV. I hope she was one of them.
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