Mon, 23 Nov 2009 7:13p.m.
Tonight the Kiwi, Maori, Aussie, or Mozzies as they call themselves, are celebrating winning Australian Idol.
Winning performer Stan Walker is a wonderful success story... on all levels.
As a child, and much of his childhood was spent here in New Zaland, San's father was violent and abusive.
Unsurprisingly, Stan was naughty, his self-esteem was nil, and whatever talent he had seemed destined to be squandered.
But one day his dad took stock and realised, to quote that ad about domestic violence, it's not okay.
The violence stopped.
Stan, his mum and his brothers, gradually recovered from the damage that had been done.
The family moved back to Australia to start afresh.
And last night, this very modern Cinderella story ended with its coronation... on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.