A story comes to mind - a true story. I have a friend who is of aboriginal background. She claimed racism when it was indeed not. Her skin is a little dark, but for the first few years I knew her, I had no idea she had "dark" skin. I was impressed with her suntan. (Bit dumb me!)

Anyway at a school where our sons attended we had a Pie Drive to raise funds. We duly handed in our order forms and money, and I was one of the many mothers rostered to distribute the pies one Friday afternoon.

I heard a commotion at one of the tables and it was my friend - getting quite hot under the collar as despite the fact that she had run around and got many orders, and sent the money and orders in, there were no supplies for her. She was livid.

She announced that the cause was racism. Because she was an aboriginal we weren't going to supply her. I was agog. It was the first time I knew about her background. And I was aghast that she would believe that her colour was the reason her order was not supplied.

As it turns out the money and the orders were still in her son's school bag - he had neglected to hand them in. Typical boy - had just forgotten maybe.

I've never forgotten that outburst - and how wrong she was to think that she had been discriminated at that time because of her colour.