SUCH IS LIFE

Source: Culture Victoria

When it comes to famous Australian figures who are etched into the history books, one always springs to mind. One of the most polarizing and infamous yet revered larrikins of our short but rich history who will always be associated with Aussie culture. I’m talking about none other than Tony Abbott — uh, mistake. My bad.

I meant the hell raising, all guns blazing, bulletproof armour-wearing bushranger of Victoria who famously led the Ned Kelly Gang by outwitting the police, constantly flirting with imprisonment before eventually meeting his demise, very comparable to the outlaws of the Old West in the United States. Yes, you guessed by his outwardly revealing group name (seriously, he could have given himself a better name that didn’t help the cops to catch him), Ned Kelly.

There may never be someone who brings such a divide as Kelly — some say he was a hero, others say an outright criminal. Whilst he struggled to obtain true rights for those like him — poor, alone, afraid — he was also a murderer and outright thief. In his final moments before his hanging, he famously uttered the phrase, “such is life” before his hanging. It is up for debate as to the accuracy of this, however such a quote has never been more associated with Australian lifestyle.

The phrase “such is life” can be defined as accepting situations as they are, because that is how life is panned out. Sometimes you cannot change your fortunes because there are no other alternatives, but rather accept them as they are and move on.

Now, I’m not saying that Australians are more inclined to bite the dust when things don’t go our way. I’m not saying we’re never up for the challenge. The message here isn’t a dig at Aussies, in fact it is of praise and high regard. When one understands that there are no more options left, and their circumstance is a by-product of life itself, this highlights a thoughtful analytical process applied to everyday life.

We’re not brash and abrasive like the Americans; nor are we too reserved like the British, or as cold as the Russians. We Australians are logical, solicitous. Evaluation is critical, and if there is to be no other route, then we sigh and move on.

Take the economy for example. The GFC is considered by many to be the worst financial crisis since The Great Depression. This led to a ripple effect that resulted in the Global Recession, lasting for approximately four years and affecting many countries worldwide. One of the few countries that managed to last this travesty was Australia. This came through consideration of our circumstances, understanding the situation, because such is life, and from then on creating reforms and policies to prevent Australia from entering a deep recession.

We approached the 2008 crisis debt-free with surplus budgets, whilst other nations were in significant deficits. In addition to this, we possessed a favourable terms of trade, which ensured our survival. Perhaps Peter Costello might have been much popular then than he is now, though we’re not concerned with that.

Or how about a less complicated and more heartfelt sample. At the end of 2014, The Western Bulldogs were in utter disarray. After a dismal 7 win season, in true snake-like fashion, captain and best player Ryan Griffen defected to the westerns suburbs of Sydney, and Coach Brendan McCartney and CEO Simon Garlick tendered their resignation. In addition, former Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney and forward Shaun Higgins left via free agency. In came former Hawthorn assistant Luke Beveridge, and crowd favourite Bob Murphy was announced as captain.

Many did not give Footscray any chance of having a successful season, instead resigned to believing they were destined to wither at the bottom of the table.

Irrespective of this, “Bevo” brought a calm and collected head with him to the club, a true philosophy that reflected Ned Kelly’s last words, and was the major catalyst for a revival the likes the AFL has rarely seen. In two years, they returned to the finals and eventually won the premiership in 2016, their first in more than half a century, and bringing hope to the once trophy-strapped suburb of Footscray.

This process lacked any kind of hastiness, or miscalculation, instead highlighting a well-thought plan that involved every stakeholder telling themselves, “right now, we’re at the bottom, and such is life. But success takes time (ask Fremantle), and is built upon hard work and dedication. This hole won’t be climbed out of in a week or two, no, this will take years. ”

Thus, before being hanged at the Melbourne Gaol on that fateful day of the 11th of November 1880, Ned Kelly uttered those famous words that will resonate with Australians forever.

You see, Kelly wasn’t succumbing to defeat, he was caught fair and square. But he knew that such instances could not be changed easily, no matter how hard he tried. He just accepted his impending death and said, “Such is life.”

Although he ultimately reached his downfall, his words could never be more significant. They are indicative of a trait among the common Australian, a belief that some things can’t be reversed with the blink of an eye, and that adequate time is an absolute necessity to ensure success. Business, relationships, sports, you name it. It applies to almost every facet of life, no matter how you look at it.