Sunday 24 November, 1996.

It was dawn on the day, the day of the last ever Crowded House concert. Even though it had rained the previous day and was clouded over in the morning, Sydney turned out a perfect day - clear, blue skies with wonderful spring temperatures.

I was worried that things will go wrong, as each time that I tried to attend a Crowded House concert, something always seems to happen to stop me going!! Yes, I was jinxed, but this time I was determined to see the concert, no matter what the obstacle. I had to, because it was their last.

After a spluttering start (which involved a sleepy boyfriend and the disappearance of friends at the Woolies confectionary counter), my friends and I arrived at the Opera House to the sight of an already gigantic crowd forming. With the harbour and the city skyline as a backdrop, why didn't people have concerts here more often?

Gradually, our bums, and then our feet, became very sore - hey! we waited for 2-and-a-half hours, okay? Powderfinger played their moody-styled rock, Custard played quirky pop, You Am I got the crowd jumping, but who were they kidding? We all came to see the band who many called "the best live band in the world" - Crowded House, of course!

And the wait and sore legs were certainly worth the experience of witnessing the magical set they played in front of a quarter million people. Crowded House were on stage for over 2 hours. "Hessy" (Paul Hester) was once again on drums. Highlights were many. Peter Jones (the drummer after Paul's departure) joined the boys for a rousing version of Sister Madly. Tim Finn sang sweet harmonies once more with Neil in Weather With You and It's Only Natural.

Finally, they brought the "house" down with an emotional version of Don't Dream It's Over, followed by the crowd and the boys joining together to sing the old (but appropriate) Hunters and Collectors song, Throw Your Arms Around Me. And the boys certainly threw their arms around each other, just as the music threw its arms around the hearts of Sydney's youth, and the world.

As the fireworks exploded against the backdrop of the shimmering harbour and the rising moon, I certainly wanted to say (in the words of a famous tune), "So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye". I had literally grown up with Crowded House - I listened to their music as a ten-year-old. They had provided many an inspiration, and lots of memories. But even when the band is no longer, their music will always survive, and continue to inspire.