Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

My hands were shaking, and my voice cracking. I nervously began my speech to the audience. I was one of the founders of the school debating team – junior high school to be exact.

Debating

Every Friday evening, during school term, we would be pitted against another school’s debating team. We had one hour to prepare our arguments about a topic. The topics were varied every week.

I was shy at first, but gradually built up my confidence. My voice broke when I was around 14. The teaching faculty asked me to be a narrator, in the main chapel – it was a Catholic school. The new archbishop of the diocese was coming into town. A welcoming mass would be held for him. The entire student body, and teaching faculty, would be in attendance.

The parable of the ten virgins was chosen as the story to read out. I was the main narrator, and a number of girls were chosen to read out the female parts. I stepped up to the microphone; I could see all the faces, students, teachers, the smiling archbishop all looking at me.

Got through the first sentence. That’s done; then the next sentence, another one down. The words flowed, everyone read out their parts. I finished speaking in front of the entire school body and teaching faculty. I was 14.

Years later, I stepped up to another microphone. This was at a rally I helped to organise in support of refugees. The Australian government has had an official policy of mandatory detention for all unauthorised arrivals. Refugees have been locked up for years in offshore detention centres. It was time to speak up.

There were thousands of people all looking at me. This was in Perth, Western Australia, around the year 2000 or 2001. The town square was packed with people. That 14 year old boy, who found his courage to speak in front of the school, was now about 30 or 31. He found his courage again. Making the crowd laugh, I lightened the mood a bit, while discussing an important issue.

Do not be ashamed to speak up for what you believe in.

Chanting

No, not Gregorian or religious chanting, but calling out slogans at demonstrations. Chanting is a way to motivate the crowd, and also include them in a unifying message. I took the megaphone – ‘say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here!’. The crowd repeated the chant.

All the multiple demonstrations I have attended, whether for refugees, Palestine, or the environment, chanting provided a sense of motivation, purpose and unified action. You are not alone, there are thousands who think and feel like you do. Chanting slogans provides a visible, concise message for all to hear.

I have said it before and I will say it again; if my fellow Australians object to boat people, well, have I got news for you. There is one boat person who brought millions of illegals in his wake; his name was Captain James Cook. He arrived illegally, and imposed his language, culture and values on the indigenous nations.

Raising the flag while climbing stairs

I have never sung on stage – except in Liverpool, England when myself and a couple of drunken Swedish tourists sang the Beatles song Yesterday at the hotel where the band started, but that does not count.

I have asthma, so I need to exercise. In Barangaroo, in Sydney’s CBD, there is a long set of steps, starting on Sussex street. Leading up a shear rock face wall to the top, it’s hundreds of steps. My legs feel like jelly.

I need something to keep me going. So I sing, out loud.

What do I sing?

You will not like this, but for marching, the song is ‘Die Fahne Hoch’, (Raise the Flag). It’s an old German song, and I have memorised the words in German. I am quite certain you know what that song is, and what it stands for – so do I. Es schau’n aufs Hakenkreuz voll hofnung schon millionen.

No, I am definitely not rehabilitating the song.

Singing out load while climbing hundreds of steps does make people turn around, looking at this strange man singing to himself. That is okay. After debating and public speaking, I am used to audiences. Marching songs keep me moving.

I had to overcome shyness, and a lack of self-confidence, to be a public speaker. You can as well.