Victoria's Empire

'I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way' - Linda Creed, 1986.

Surely there can be no finer tonic for life's woes than seeing a whole bunch of kids trying their hearts out and giving it their all.

And last weekend in Melbourne, as privileged guests at the Victoria State School Spectacular, that's exactly what we witnessed.

Pupils from schools all over Victoria were taking part, including forty students from Wodonga Primary, our Robyn being amongst them.

The event was hosted by the Hisense Arena - formerly, and more famously, known as the Vodafone Arena. Believe me, this joint is no two-bit Girl Guide hut, it's a world-class venue more used to hosting major sporting events like the Commonwealth Games than a bunch of schoolkids singing and dancing.

Even more impressive than the venue was the production itself. The logistics, organisation, props, choreography, costumes and make-up would have been befitting a West End musical or a Broadway show.

And the kids themselves - they were something else. Unbelievable. Thousands of 'em were involved and everywhere you looked they were trying their level best. There was no bludging, no having a breather on the wing - from go to whoa they gave it absolute socks. Few things in life touch me as much as a 'young 'un' giving it max, and I barely had a dry eye from the anthem to the encore.

In contrast to the modern trend of over-statement and exaggeration, the Victoria State School Spectacular was appropriately named.

Gee, I was impressed and I was proud - proud of Robyn, proud of the kids from Wodonga Primary and proud of being a resident of Victoria.