It happened on Christmas Day in ‘ninety-eight
A once-in-a-lifetime event!
Western Australia’s only “White Christmas”
at the height of summer.
Not just a light dusting
Twenty centimetres blanketing the summit
Two years before a new millennium
Harbinger of stranger things!
(c) Dennis Ryle, January 2026
This is in response to the dVerse Poetics invitation sent out by Kim. It is inspired by snow as an accompaniment to new beginnings, inspired by the turn of the year. Well, not much of that in a hot Aussie summer – but there was that one occasion. And Christmas is close enough to the New Year to count.
Wondering Pilgrim 
Australian snow, eh? Yikes.
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It has its place in the winter ski resorts of the Australian Alps over east. Very rare here in the west.
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You bet it’s close enough to count! Many folks up here in the Northern Hemisphere are feeling fierce jealousy right about now….wishing it was SUMMER! I enjoyed your poem …. [ I spent several weeks in Australia on the Gold Coast in Autumn 1985 ~~~ I long to return one day. ]
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Thanks, Helen, We are equally jealous of winter folk as we swelter through a hot summer! The Gold Coast is great – and there’s stunning scenery here in the West always waiting for a visit.
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Never say never, eh?
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“Never” is a brave word!
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Wow! Australian snow! And at the height of summer! A harbinger indeed, Dennis.
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Yep – as rare as footprints on the dark side of the moon!
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As a lover of winter and snow I am always delighted to find it at unexpected places….
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lt was certainly unexpected!
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Thanks for sharing your experience of your unusual White Christmas!
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