For a Moment, Forever .. To be an Aurora
A single moment lived fully can echo forever.
For a Moment, Forever
You think, you dream, you are inspired
and you decide to go for the Team.
You plan, you flex, you push, you pull, you metal,
you shuffle, you kettle, you stand and paddle,
and jump a few hurdles,
and suddenly, you've made the Team, the first stage of a dream.
You smile for a while,
but you know it is only the first mile.
You train, you strain, you pain, you drain,
you gain, you laugh, you try, you cry,
you learn, you create capacity and experiences,
and build motion, connections and emotions
for a Moment that seems so far off.
You desire, you aspire, you perspire,
time transpires
and suddenly the Moment is there just in front of you,
just there waiting for you to decide
and respond as only you know how to.
May you seize this Moment just ahead.
It is just there .. waiting .. yes, just there.
Where?
It's there, just there, you know it.
Grasp it with both hands.
Fight for the inches, they are hard to find but they are there.
And given an inch, take a mile, no mercy.
What lies ahead is a mystery
and shortly it will be history,
to become your few threads
in the rich tapestry that became before you.
Be in and saviour this Moment,
it is there waiting for you to move into and through,
just like a door,
to shape you
and to become your memories with friends for a lifetime.
Forever.
As Jenny would say,
"Don't Wonder 'What If?'"
Go Australia!!
Go the Auroras!!
Written for the 2015 Aurora’s as they were about to commence the 2015 World Dragon Boat Campaign in Welland, Canada. Not sure where it came from. My one and only poem in life. It just flowed out of me in a few minutes as I watched from afar with pride and excitement for what they were about to experience.
An After Afterthought
The most powerful moments are never forced. They arrive.
A moment, a love
A dream, aloud
A kiss, a cry
Our rights, our wrongs
A moment, a love
A dream, aloud
A moment, a love
A dream, aloud
The 2010 Glastonbury performance of Sweet Disposition by Australian Band, The Temper Trap, begins in near stillness.
The stage is bathed in the natural sunlight of a calm clear English summer afternoon on a Somerset field.
The crowd sways gently, quiet in anticipation. And above it all, a line of tall colourful flags moves with the breeze—about ten in total, their positions scattered and spontaneous.
Among them, the Australian flag moves with the rest—quiet, steady, and unassuming. It doesn’t draw attention at first, but when the camera finds it—framed with the Australian performers—it says everything. A quiet presence, strong in its place, just as it does at International Dragon Boat events.
The song opens with a long instrumental lead-in—2 minutes and 25 seconds of slow, steady build before the first lyric. It’s not filler. It’s formation. Just like a dragon boat team warming up—off the water and on—making its way to the start line.
It’s time to prepare, to tune in, to find presence as individuals and as a crew.
And when the moment finally arrives, it lands with full weight—carried by stillness, lifted by sound.
That’s the magic of this performance: it isn’t tightly choreographed. It unfolds.
The randomness of the flags, the slow lead-in, the way everything builds without force—it’s what makes the moment resonate.
Not despite the looseness, but because of it.
Just like a great race. Just like a great team. Just like a paddler at their best.
We train for control, but it’s often the unexpected that moves us most.
We become one—for a moment. And that moment connects us, forever.
What It Feels Like – Representing Australia, Hearing Island Home
For an Australian representing their country, Island Home hits home. Mau Power’s version becomes more than music — it’s a grounding force. It reminds you of where you come from, the people who shaped you, and the meaning of wearing the green and gold. A quiet pride. A shared story. A moment that stays with you, forever.
Lots of About’s today ..
About the Song – Sweet Disposition
Sweet Disposition is a breakout track by The Temper Trap, known for its extended instrumental build (in this case), soaring vocals, and emotional resonance. The song captures the quiet intensity of preparing for a moment — and the powerful release when it arrives. Like a dragon boat crew finding rhythm before the start, it speaks to presence, persistence, and the lasting echo of a fleeting experience.
About the Band – The Temper Trap
The Temper Trap is an Australian indie rock band formed in Melbourne in 2005. With a sound that blends atmospheric guitars and falsetto vocals, they gained international acclaim for Sweet Disposition and their ability to create music that builds with feeling and space. Their work continues to resonate with those drawn to stillness, movement, and emotional connection.
About the Song – Island Home
Mau Power’s version of Island Home brings new depth to a beloved Australian classic. Originally written by Neil Murray and popularised by Christine Anu, this rendition blends hip-hop with storytelling rooted in Torres Strait Islander identity. It speaks to belonging, cultural pride, and the lasting pull of home — far beyond any shoreline.
About the Artist – Mau Power
Mau Power, born Patrick Mau, is a hip-hop artist from Thursday Island in the Torres Strait. He bridges rap with traditional culture, using music to share stories of identity, strength, and heritage. As one of the first Torres Strait Islander voices in national hip-hop, he brings a unique and grounded perspective to Australian music.
About the Performance – 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony
At the 2018 Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony, Mau Power joined Christine Anu to perform Island Home in a moving tribute to culture and place. Their powerful blend of rap and song shared a message of Indigenous pride and connection, resonating on a global stage with strength and grace.
One Heart, One Soul, One Team, One Goal