VOLUNTEER shop assistant Dave Hill will celebrate Australia Day at his Millicent home tomorrow in “true Aussie style”.
He will throw some lamb chops on the barbecue, open a can of draught beer and watch the cricket from the Adelaide Oval on
television.
Born in Ayrshire, Scotland 62 years ago and a resident of Australia for over half a century, Dave has not yet become a naturalised citizen.
Dave told The South Eastern Times he supported Australia Day and has not ruled out taking citizenship one day.
His passage via ship from Scotland to Australia in the mid-1960s was quite eventful.
“We were the last ship allowed through the Suez Canal before the war,” Dave said.
“I had hoped we had been blocked as that would have given us an extra two weeks on the ship – via the Cape of Good Hope.
“My parents were 10-pound Scots: they paid 10 pounds each for their passage and us five kids travelled for free.
“They had another child in Australia.”
Although the Scots have a thick accent, it is not detectable in Dave’s speech.
“I was only 11 when I came to Australia and I was determined to lose my accent and I did so within a year,” he said.
“I spoke very fast with a Scottish accent and people in Australia could not understand me.
“I found myself having to repeat myself all the time.”
After a full working life, Dave has been happy to be a shop volunteer for the past few years.
On most days, he can be found serving and sorting at the Lifeline Shop in Davenport Street.
According to Dave, Lifeline is a charity worthy of community support.
“They do good work and assist people with issues,” he said.
“The counsellors are easy to reach on the telephone.”
It is a long tradition of the Millicent Lifeline Shop to stage special displays to coincide with events like Christmas, Easter and Anzac Day.
Dave was happy to pose with a store mannequin which was kitted out in Australia Day garb.
