Team Bargara - "We Belong"

I have written in earlier posts why I returned to the Bundaberg region in December 2023.

What I didn't expect was that I would want to stay.

I have fallen in love with Bargara, something I did not expect.

I honestly feel like I am "a local" despite only being here a short time. I also feel like "I Belong" here. There is something quite mystical about the deep-seated connection I have with the beach at Bargara. It's actually where the core meaning of my Blog name ThalassoAnt is derived (Thalassa - lover of the sea and Ant - short for Anthony).

I have also written in earlier Blog posts about what I have discovered about myself since returning to the Bundy region. I have certainly rewritten that fateful chapter of my life from 1982-1985 when I finished off High School here in Bundaberg at Kepnock SHS now.

My very active lifestyle in Bargara is heavily consumed by Sport and Recreational activities and that does actually surprise me. I have discovered that my previous attitudes around Sport in general were misguided. In essence I used to say I hated Sport. And I did, but not for the reasons I used to think.

I have discovered it wasn't Sport itself I didn't like. It was the toxic culture that so often goes with it!

I am now spreading my wings in Bargara and joining as many Sporting and Recreational activities as I can as my newfound pleasure in the very welcoming culture present in the Bargara community is just what I was looking for.

I truly feel like "I Belong" here and in these Sporting and Recreational groups too.

I recently discovered an Australian Registered Charity called Team Rainbow Queensland and instantly felt a connection with them because of their mission statement.

"Team Rainbow is a non-profit organisation that promotes sports, fitness, and holistic health...We strive to connect all aspects of the community to promote inclusive organisations that welcome everyone without discrimination."

I instantly became a member, and after many discussions with their management team, Team Bargara was born.

I now have the perfect dream where I have an idyllic place to live, a full-time job that allows me to have a very balanced lifestyle and a vibrant and an active community that strives to host welcoming and inclusive activities for everyone locally in Bargara.

I used to say "I Belong", but not anymore. I have replaced the word I with the word WE.

It's not "I Belong," it's "We Belong."

Everyone wants to feel connected, to feel like they belong to a community, to not be isolated.

Team Bargara is all about "WE Belong" - a community for everyone!

Pat Benatar had the right song decades ago!

We Belong

Song by

Pat Benatar

"Many times I've tried to tell you

Many times I've cried alone

Always I'm surprised how well

You've cut my feelings to the bone

Don't want to leave you really

I've invested too much time

To give you up that easy

To the doubts that complicate your mind

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We've both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong, we belong

We belong together

Maybe it's a sign of weakness

When I don't know what to say

Maybe I just wouldn't know

What to do with my strength anyway

Have we become a habit?

Do we distort the facts?

Now there's no looking forward

Now there's no turning back

When you say we belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We've both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong, we belong

We belong together

Close your eyes and try to sleep now

Close your eyes and try to dream

Clear your mind and do your best

To try and wash the palette clean

We can't begin to know it

How much we really care

I hear your voice inside me

I see your face ev'rywhere

Still you say we belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We've both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong, we belong

We belong together (we belong)

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder

We belong to the sound of the words

We've both fallen under

Whatever we deny or embrace

For worse or for better

We belong, we belong

We belong together (we belong)

We belong to the light

We belong to the thunder"