At Friday night's concert the Dutch ambassador made a lovely welcoming speech in celebration of four centuries of Dutch-Australian relations. Four hundred years ago, the Dutch landed on Australian shores 'looking for spices and other things to trade'. They sailed away, unaware that they had touched the world's largest deposite of bauxite (Weipa). 'Unfortunately', the ambassador continued, '150 years later Captain James Cook landed at Botany Bay and planted the Union Jack. And that is why I must give this speech in English instead of Dutch.' His accent was a little curious. Did he really welcome the 'Horrible Senator'? I guess it must have been 'honourable'. And the very generous gesture of a glass of champagne for each of the 2000 or so people in the audience was very well received indeed. 'To distant Dutch friends!'