For older Australians: How does your perception of Australia differ from your younger years?

I was listening to the radio the other day and the segment asked 50+ year olds to call in and explain if they’re “wiser” and specifically what about. It was an insightful segment. One woman called in and said that she’s come to realise that Australia isn’t the country she thought it was when she was a kid. She explained that she was raised on this idea that it was egalitarian and collegial but in reality it’s not that. She explained that Australians bicker with each other over trivial topics and most people are self centred and self absorbed - she went on to explain how she felt the nation is actually very divided and it’s always been the case. She added that the “happy go lucky” Australian is a bit of a myth and most Aussies bare a lot of stress and anger. I’m interested to hear from others and whether there perception of Australia and what it means to be Australians has changed with age?