Yes, 2024 has seen its share of gloom, but my algorithm has also found plenty of reasons to be cheerful. So for a moment, let’s stand in the light.
1. The year began with a brave decision from our council not to fund any Australia Day celebrations on January 26.
Yes, it was a radical-left virtue signal from the woke agenda — but remember, if you’re not woke, you’re asleep.
2. We also saw the 150th anniversary of an art exhibition in Paris by a group of light chasers who went on to be called Impressionists.
Of course, it was derided by traditionalists as stupid and ugly.
It would probably have been called woke too, but the word wasn’t invented then.
3. In April, the CSIRO released the world’s first magpie translator app.
At last, we could talk to the cheeky blighters and understand their warbles.
Unfortunately, the app was released on April Fool’s Day — but for a moment, the world was very cheerful.
4. In June, WikiLeaks founder and annoying truth-teller Julian Assange was freed after five years in prison and seven years in hiding.
That’s what you get if you shine a light in the wrong places.
5. The publication of three terrific Australian books this year is worth raising a great cheer.
James Bradley’s Deep Water is a hymn to the beauty and wonder of the ocean; Tim Winton’s Juice is another powerful reminder of the importance of looking after our world; Helen Garner’s The Season is worth reading because anything she writes is worth reading.
6. In the US town of Bend, Oregon, someone stuck googly eyes on public art sculptures which annoyed municipal authorities and brought much cheer to everyone else.
7. The biggest ever Biggest Blokes Lunch in Kialla once again proved that more than a thousand blokes can get very cheerful together without things getting too messy and at the same time raise a pile of cash for a good cause.
8. ABC TV show Headliners brought disabled rock musicians together for the first time to play at outback music festival Mundi Mundi Bash.
The result was totally inspirational and cheerful.
9. Despite their recent passing, we should all be cheerful for the lives and legacies of John Marsden and Michael Leunig.
They brought Australia much insight, truth and magic.
10. Finally, we should all be cheerful and thankful for the continuing presence of The News in our community.
In a sterile desert of regional media, The News brings us daily reminders of just how great it is to live here.
There you go — 10 reasons to be cheerful about the past year.
I’m sure there will be plenty more to come in 2025.
Some of you may raise a great cheer at the news I am taking a break during January.
For the rest of you, just go into The News’ archives and read my old columns until I’m back in February.
Cheers.
John Lewis is a former journalist at The News.
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