Has Australia made the “nice” list this year? Santa responds.

Young Tony seems hell-bent on convincing you that you are hard-done-by; and Santa is worried that you're buying it. I've never seen you so suspicious about sharing your toys since that time when you insisted that you'd only play with the white kids.

(I know you don't like it when Santa remembers these things, but my list is long.)

Don'tbuy it: for these are the wares of the fear-monger, and fear has never got you anywhere, Australia. You owe your greatest development and your greatest gains to the moments when you suppressed your fears, embraced risk, and acted with generosity.

Each time you have done so you have emerged a greater, stronger, smarter, admired and successful child. You are greater today than your grandparents would have dreamed, and have more than even you dared to hope (if you're honest). You should act accordingly.

See yourself clearly, proudly, but honestly.

Understand that the good qualities you have are deeply admirable, because they are universal. You write to me about "mateship;" the French boy writes about "fraternity." They are the same thing.

Come to see that the "isolation" you once feared is, in fact, why you are now the luckiest kid in the class. You have won a lottery of geographic proportions.

Celebrate that the country of your birth as a wonderful place, but be mindful that being born there is not, in itself, your achievement - although it certainly was your Mum's!

It's an act of chance; and that chance has brought you great health and prosperity. Share it with those to whom chance has dealt a different hand.

Above all, stop being scared. It's hard to be good when you are.

You are still young and can be scared easily. But you can be good; so good. In fact, that is your story, Australia. It is a wonderful story, which you have greatly enjoyed, yet suddenly fear to read the next chapter.

But there is nothing you need fear from being good, my dear Australia; so take a deep breath, and turn that page.

With love,

Santa.