Haha, @PaulPavlinovich , this is indeed the first funny story of the year. A young bodyguard 
You made my day, Paul.
A big hug, happy new year
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Glad to give you a laugh my friend @ErmesT . Sitting next to her was actually fairly important for her, Australia had not long dropped the White Australia Policy and when she and her family arrived only recently outlawed racial discrimination. The family were refugees from Apartheid South Africa, they were the only people I had ever met at that time of my life that were not white or Asian. She often copped abuse on the school bus, with me there at least no-one could sit next to her and bother her directly. Today Australia has what we call casual racism which is still bad, but generally for most of us we accept as equals our friends whose families originate from other places but then we were absolutely awful. It wasn’t until 1975 that it became illegal to racially abuse someone and to discriminate on the basis of race.
You can read a relatively balanced representation of it on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Australia_policy
Australia has come a long way in my lifetime. We’ve got a long way to go as demonstrated by the current far right success in our elections with the resurgence of racism and division that goes along with them. I’m confident we can do it because I know deep down most of us are like me and welcome everyone.
Paul
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Chapeau, @PaulPavlinovich , and sorry about my laugh, that your great reply have changed in a big smile and a very big hug (well, you are a great person, and I am not talking about your size).
You should build and write a story about that. Sometimes the History is passing through small, mostly invisible actions, that together can make a change in the life of many.
I will explain on another post why I am adding this rose at the end of my reply
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