Australia Day will be with us again tomorrow, calling us to celebrate what it means to belong to this country, what we mean to it, and how we can play our part in “advancing” this fair land of ours.
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It is interesting to note that our National Anthem was actually composed by a Scottish born musician, Peter Dodds - McCormick in 1878, and promoted to its current status on 19th April 1984. There are many significant historical dates in our Australian history.
With January 26 taking the lead as late as 1994 when it was declared a national public holiday. We are a nation of immigrant people with only a small percentage whose forebears have not arrived here by boat from various parts of the world, and we are the richer and more greatly blessed because of it.
We may be “girt by sea”, but that doesn’t seem to have been a problem until more recent years with debates rising about immigration, asylum seekers and refugees seeking safety.
Fr Joseph Sobb, a Jesuit priest who penned the lovely words to the hymn “God of Australia” which is sung to the tune of Waltzing Matilda, reminds us that we are called to walk with justice and integrity so that we can keep our vision of hope.
Without hope, the darkness falls, and we lose our sense of direction and purpose in life. Without integrity and justice, neither our individual lives nor our national identity has any meaningful value.
With both Federal and State elections on the near horizon, we need our politicians and candidates to come forth with plans and ideas which will enhance our country, not just be pipe dreams!
Parliament is not the place for personal defamation and character assassination, instead of sensible debate on issues that belong in governance presented with integrity, justice and appropriate research.
If we can honestly stand and sing Advance Australia Fair, then we have to do what we can, insofar as is possible, to make sure our aged care facilities are up to standard, domestic violence takes a sharp decline, paedophilia ceases to happen, drug taking and trading be uprooted, just to name a few current issues.
To look on the bright side of things, we need to welcome all the people taking Australian citizenship at formal gatherings across the country.
Irrespective of their race, colour or creed, and ensure that they get the chance to experience equal opportunity in this wide brown land of ours. Bruce Woodley and Dobe Newton have written a popular and meaningful song.
“I am, you are, we are Australian” which touches all aspects of being Australian – We are one but we are many – from the Dreamtime, the prison ships, the settlers, the gold diggers, and the free settlers, while at the same time touching into the deserts and plains, the mountains and valleys, the droughts and flooding rains with which we are all so familiar.
Let us celebrate Australia Day with joy and thanksgiving for all that has gone before us. Stand confidently on the shoulders of our forebears to look hopefully into the future.
Happy Australia Day!
Australia day in Orange
Come along for a day on the lawns at Cook Park, with a barbecue from 8am, live music, fun activities and rides sure to entertain the whole crew for the day. Formalities and awards will commence at 9am.