Jerry, we Australians are very proud of how we cope with adversity & you could almost write a book about the cliches that we use to describe that attitude. While most of us live within 100kms of the ocean (where the living is relatively easy) we used to live inland where life in considerably harder
The bottom line is most people live by a general mantra; you always help a mate & everyone's a mate in a crisis (except for looters - they get strung up by their testicles)
Most Aussies get a bit misty eyed at this - especially in times like these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceWKrsJX9N4