The 'Gong'

Sacred land of the Wodi Wodi people

Part of the Dharawal nation

Born and bred in this place called the ‘Gong’

Where I always return in proud celebration

I navigate the drive down the highway

In child-like joyous anticipation

As the fog opens up she reveals her beauty

A stage admired on many occasions

Glistening blue waters caress her coast

As seagulls play tip with the surfers

The perpetual swell of the houses

Climb up and down the escarpment

The chips wrapped in paper, with meat pie and sauce

As I stand up and cheer in the stadium

The roar of the crowd as the siren sounds

Team song belts out in unilateral verbatim

Mt Ousley, Mt Keira, Mt Kembla

And a point so unique and sublime

These suburbs all dotted from north to south

On first name basis and all friends of mine

Giant birds spread their wings

Surrendering to the elements at Bald Hill

As a sea bridge meanders along the cliff

Like a millipede seeking her next thrill

Trawlers tied tightly to the harbour

Where I once caught my first ever fish

Two white lighthouses look over the ocean

To help guide the captains and their ships

To the port like ants to her queen

Where they drop off containers & cars

Whilst others load up full of steel, wheat or coal

An industry built by migrants who travelled from afar

So when mum and dad arrived here in the 70s

They did not know they would stay here so long

Where their kids would come back time and time again

To a loving home called Wollongong

Poem by Christian Ravello (Copyright September 2021)