Today, here at Lorelle’s place on the Sunshine Coast, we said Auf Wiedersehen to one group of German backpackers and hallo to Michael from Bavaria. Because Michael is travelling alone my good friend and I invited the young man to go with us to Caloundra (fifteen kilometres away), where we had arranged to meet up with another friend from school. En route my Sat Nav kept reminding me, very politely, every time I exceeded the speed limit by even two kilometres per hour and this led to a discussion about speeding offences and fines.

Michael, who speaks excellent English, recounted a run-in with the Australian police that happened to two German friends of his when they were backpacking in Australia two years ago. Apparently the travellers were pulled over by a police car with flashing lights.

“Let’s pretend we can’t speak English,” one suggested.

“Yes, let’s speak German,” the other agreed.

“Sorry, aber wir sprechen nicht Englisch (Sorry, but we don’t speak English),” said the guilty pair.

“Das ist in ordnung, ich spreche Deutsch (That’s alright, I speak German),” said the police officer who had emigrated from Germany to Australia fifteen years ago.

The speeders had to pay a fine of $250.