MARCH 18

On this date in 1834, a strange thing happened.  I've been fortunate enough to spend almost two weeks in Australia - a beautiful country and continent to be sure.  Most of my time there was in Sydney.  On the side of The Circular Quay Harbor and just across form the famous Sydney Opera House is an area called The Rocks. 

The Rocks is the oldest neighborhood in the country.  The original inhabitants of Sydney, Australia were prisoners and other banished from the British Isles.  It was easier than putting people in prison - just send them to Australia.  The Rocks area is where most of these ne'er-do-wells ended up living.  The area is now full of bars, restaurants and small shops - a great place to visit.

Back to what happened on this date in 1834.  Six farm laborers from England were banished from the country for trying to start a trade union and transported to Australia.  The English would have none of that union business.  I thought that really bad people were sent to Australia - not so.  These were just nuisance people. If I ever get banished from this country, I hope I can go there.