OPINION: Don't forget the power of the "country wave"

TO the embarrassment of my nearest and dearest, I have taken on some of the tendencies of my parents – one of which being the "country wave".

TO the embarrassment of my nearest and dearest, I have taken on some of the tendencies of my parents - one of which being the "country wave".

I usually only employ the country wave while travelling within about a five kilometre radius of my home, or while fishing.

From an early age I learned it is common courtesy to wave at everyone while you are out on the water, and this rule is observed by most boaties, with the exception of some of the ultra-rich cruise boat owners and lunatics on jet skis who are too focussed on how awesome they must look to acknowledge the presence of others.

On a recent holiday just south of the border, I started waving and saying g'day to every Tom, Dick, and Harry that crossed my path during the morning walk, and I can proudly report that I enjoyed about a 90% reciprocation rate.

It's true, about 10% of people are a bit weird, but I haven't lost hope for them. The country wave is an infectious activity.

I fondly remember a bloke we used to call "The King" - an old fella who lived on Whitehill Rd at Raceview - who sat out on his window every afternoon from 3pm to wave at every person who went past.

After a while, The King had everyone waving and smiling.

Which got me thinking; perhaps a little wave every now and then could do something to reduce the tension that we see too much on the roads these days.