The final leg into Canberra this morning was interesting to say the least.
Stopping for fuel I was asked where I was going. When I said Canberra, I was wished good luck and please line up all those protesters and shoot them while I was there.
A few of those ‘protesters’ within ear shot smiled and continued filling their cars but with a new look of steely determination in their eyes. That seemed to be the mood of the day. Yesterday’s excitement and friendly atmosphere was still there but with a new look added of ‘we will do whatever it takes’ to bring attention to the travesty of what is going on in Australia.
Very little was happening at Parliament House but there were a few AFP left guarding the premises. They were chatty but did go quiet when we talked about the expected numbers tomorrow.
Black shirted police have been brought in from Sydney and Melbourne and they were referred to as ‘the beat up boys’. Interesting term.
Barricades have been brought in and are being erected on the roads and area around Parliament House in an attempt to ‘corral’ the expected crowds tomorrow. Going by what this reporter has seen and heard today that would appear a futile exercise.
The campground has been moved out of town and the volunteers there are doing a tremendous job cooking and feeding the ever growing crowd.
Meghan, a Canberra local and organizer, was overwhelmed with the 1,000s of dollars of food donated so people could eat free of charge after their travels. Enough bread, sausages and salad to feed hungry hordes with no one going hungry.
Graham Hood is the topic of conversation and appears to be the man destined to become the focal point of what will happen over the next few days. He is greatly respected and his cool, calm manner is what is needed with so many attendees rolling in from around the country.
A new dawn is coming and we wait with anticipation to see which direction that will take.
