A moonless night and a Glassy sea.
Rye: Against the backdrop of a crazy carnival, and looking out towards the sea, a scattered peoples collected in small pools of hope. Children played. A lone woman stood at the edge of the stone wall and held Vigil for the Bay. Newcomers drifted in and out looking for a happening to quench their thirst. Some just sat or stood. Confused and saddened, ruffled by the tourist mobs that didn’t know what they had right here, right now, we looked to sea. Fishing on the pier carried on as usual. But the seagulls knew and lined the sandbank to watch the people.
Across the softening glassy horizon, the night crept close and then, bright light shone hazily in the strangest of places. Way in the distance it held then travelled East. Flotilla! Our spirits lifted. Little groups clumped amidst the darkness waved their torches to cheer on the Fisherfolk who knew and cared. Then waved torches again to the Tasman Ferry, jewel like on the velvet sea. To the West, the Peninsular was blazing. Pockets of light grew round to Mornington and then beyond and shone more brightly as darkness caped the sky.
“Why aren’t there more people?”, was repeated oft along the shore. I stopped counting at 130 as I walked the beach and greeted the tribal clans. “We’re here” I soothed. The evening finale of a guitar and a song being written – about the Bay – comforted a weary soul.
The hoons were churning up the car park because the Carnival screeching had ceased and the silence of a balmy night was too serene. The young ones from the city who had built a fire – disappeared, disgruntled at my torchlight on their escapades and wondering why these people had interfered with their night.
Yes, we did this for everyone.
Including those who do not want not to know;
for those who do not know;
for those who DO know and care;
for those who know and choose not to care.
It is done.
And the Bay says Thank You.
*Joyful Pics and postings re the Vigil have started coming in and are up on a new page : Around The Bay. It is 4. am.
*Media Release from Minister Garrett. Arrived at the timely hour just prior to the Bay Vigil. [Word doc]
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