A sense of belonging can emerge from the connections made with people, places and the larger world. It is these connections that influence where we search for meaning in our lives and ultimately where we belong. The Simple Gift (TSG) verse novel by Steven Herrick illustrates a protagonist journey through alienation to belonging through the building of relationships. It is through these relationships that he connects with the town. He searches for belonging through his relationships which creates connection with Benderat. “I Still call Australia Home” by Peter Allen, shows us the connection that people have had with a place. When people find real meaning it’s when they belong, this song illustrates a connection with a place and the finding of this creates belonging.

Herrick’s verse novel TSG shows us how the characters have created connections with people, and places. These connections influence where the characters search for meaning in their lives and where they belong. When Billy in the poem “Old Bill” says “Would you believe his name is Bill” Billy felt an instant connection just through their names. Steven Herrick uses the same names suggesting that old Bill is a mirror of Billy and that Old Bill is who Billy could become. Old Bill has started to become a father figure for Billy. The connection that Billy and Old Bill have, has created a sense of belonging in each of their lives.

Peter Allen’s song “I still call Australia home” exposes us to the realisation that we can belong by just having a connection to a place. “From New York to Rome and Old London Town” Peter uses symbolism to show us that Australia is still home this is showing us that this person can travel around the world but they have made a connection with Australia and when they come to Australia the belong and have found meaning in their lives, he also utilises rhyming in verse two with the words “free, sea, foam, and home” this is stating that the person is comfortable and still free to go everywhere and come back to Australia and still feel like they are at home this also brings out the connection with a place and that this connection has influenced where they search for meaning in their lives. The word “free” represents a free spirit that is uncontrollable.
“All the sons and daughters spinning round the world
Away from their family and friends but as the world gets older and colder it’s good to know where your journey ends
But no matter how far or wide I roam
I still call Australia, I still call Australia, I still call Australia home”

The repetition of “no matter how far or wide I roam, I still call Australia home” just states the connection people have with Australia and they feel a sense of belonging. This brings in the connection family to a place, as far as they go the still calla Australia home. The connection with family and a place creates a place to search for meaning in your lives and that’s ultimately where you find belonging People find belonging with a strong connection through a relationship and a place. TSG, through the relationship of Caitlin snd Billy shows us that through their relationship they both went from alienation to belong just from having a strong connection together. In the poem “Caitlin and Mopping” Caitlin says “when I first saw him I wanted to go up and say, ‘Put that food back’” by putting the inverted commas its saying that she wants to do what society is telling her to do, because this is what any adult would, and these words have been put into her mouth by the world. In this poem Billy is proud of who he is, he stays calm because no one knows who he is. Caitlin feels a connection with Billy because the self-assuredness of Billy is something that Caitlin seeks. The connection that Billy and Caitlin have is through the hate of the McDonald’s manager which is both said in one of Billy’s poems and Caitlin’s. There is another made when Billy walks up to Caitlin reads her name badge and says “Goodnight Caitlin” this is a very strong connection made. Billy and Caitlin both found belonging in each other through their relationship together and connection that they made.

Both The Simple Gift and “I Still Call Australia home” emphasize that it is through connections with family, friends and places that we can find meaning in our lives and where we belong. In “I Still Call Australia home” Peter Allen attains the emerging connection made with a place in order to find belonging. “Home is where your heart is”. The Simple Gift by Steven Herrick achieves belonging by the growing relationships between Billy and Caitlin and Old Bill and Billy, also the connection that Billy and Old bill had with the Bendarat Hilton. In both texts, belonging is only achieved through a connection with a person, place and the larger world.