SO COMPREHENSIVE was the program, worked out by Bass Coast Shire Council officials, for the annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at Wonthaggi on January 26 this year, that it’s impossible to believe the absence of the National Anthem was a mere oversight or an “inconsistency”.
So, what happened?
Three people posed questions about the absence of the National Anthem from the official program at last week’s council meeting but received little satisfaction.
It was only when the Deputy Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead intervened, offering to sing the anthem herself, right at the end when the 33 new citizens, their families and friends had already been invited to afternoon tea, that it was hastily included at all.
It has been reported that the Mayor Cr Michael Whelan insisted the anthem not be played, out of a misguided response to the sensitivities around celebrating on the 26th of January.
But, despite being asked to confirm or deny these claims, he has offered no explanation and no apology.
Here’s what Michael Whelan had to say at the Australia Day Citizenship event in Wonthaggi on Thursday, January 26 at 2pm, in front of the 33 citizenship applicants, their friends, families and supporters.
Other contributors included the Deputy Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead and a male person interjecting.
Michael Whelan: Good afternoon, and thanks. You're all here very early, so congratulations. And I'm not one to start early though. So, I think we'll start right on time. So, I'm Michael Whelan. I'm the mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council, and I'll be taking you through the citizen citizenship ceremony today.
The first thing on my list is to acknowledge our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but I am nothing, if not one who regards principle very highly. So, I want to acknowledge that today, being Australia Day, the 26th of January, is also a sad day for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The 26th of January is actually the day in 1788 when the English fleet sailed into Botany Bay, and took over the land as a colony. And that matters that we acknowledge that and, and so it's a day where our Aboriginal friends and colleagues are sad. On the 10th of October in 1835…
Male (interrupted): Excuse me sir, I ask that you do not speak for me or a lot of…
Michael Whelan: On the 10th of October 1835, New South Wales Governor Sir Richard Bourke declared the country terra nullius.
Male (interupted]: It is!
Michael Whelan: Which means nobody's land, even though indigenous populations have lived here, in a civilization, for 65,000 years. The notion of Australia Day in itself was the brainchild of the Australian Natives' Association and that became known as ANA weekend. As I grew up. I was never aware that there was such contention around that day. And in fact, ANA weekend was when we had our swimming carnival, and it's usually the last Monday in January. And so there wasn't that contention.
It wasn't until 1988 when it was settled that the holiday would be held on that particular day that I think it became, it became as contentious as it is.
So I would like to say that Bass Coast Shire Council supports the proposal for an indigenous ‘Voice to Parliament’. The Voice to Parliament is an important and overdue part of our journey towards reconciliation and to building strong and meaningful relationships with traditional owners of the land upon which we live and work. [CROWD CLAPS].
Bass Coast Shire Council is proud to be one of the four leading Bass Coast organisations that make up the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network along the Bass Coast Health, Westernport Water and Phillip Island Nature Parks; working together with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, traditional owners, organisations, local members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and the Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group.
Bass Coast along with 38 mayors from across the country have now signed up including representatives from every state and territory to support the Voice to Parliament.
Bass Coast Council is proud to acknowledge the people of the Bunurong as the traditional owners and custodians of this land and waters. We recognise in it the unique diversity of the first peoples here in Bass Coast. Council is committed to an ongoing process of reconciliation and community strengthening through building strong organisational and community relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.
I will now take the microphone, we will have a video. A great honour to introduce the video sponsored by the Bass Coast Council and other member organisations of the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network. This video has been produced by the Bunurong Land Council and they've given us their permission to share it as today's Welcome to Country.
[Video played]
Michael Whelan (07:49): So, it's a great pleasure today to welcome our soon-to-be-new Australians who we will introduce individually in a few minutes. Many of you have been living and working in our local community for many years. And if that's the case, we hope you have always felt welcome, and had the opportunity to participate fully in our community.
Today is our opportunity to fully recognise you as Bass Coast Australian citizens. The first Australian citizenship ceremony was held on the 3rd of February 1949, with seven men representing each Australian state and territory swearing their allegiance to Australia. They hailed from Denmark, France, Greece, Norway, Spain and Yugoslavia.
Today we have a bigger representation and I'm really pleased to acknowledge that we spread across Europe and we spread across Asia and welcome to all of you in that regard. Despite their varied backgrounds though, united by commitment to values equal opportunity, mutual respect and tolerance, freedom of speech and religion commitment to democracy in Australian Law.
Today, Australia is one of the most successful modern, multicultural nations in the world. Since 1949, we've welcomed more than 5 million new Australians to our shores. Today you'll be making the pledge which is a final step in becoming an Australian citizen. Today marks the beginning of your formal membership of the Australian community, a community that is envied for its opportunity across the world.
We believe in treating people fairly and giving everyone a go no matter where they come from, what their traditions are, whether they are old, young, male or female. Here in Bass Coast, we are always aiming to make our patch a better place to live, work and play.
We are so lucky to be able to live somewhere with such a fantastic and diverse community. We now look to you as Australians to help us ensure our history, our traditions and our culture are respected, and our values upheld.
We ask you to represent your country with pride, engage in your communities wherever possible, so we may be able to learn from you and your ideas and your cultures. We ask you to lend a hand to help a mate, to play your part. But most of all, we ask you to be proud Australians.
Today, I'm pleased to welcome our Deputy Mayor Councillor Rochelle Halstead, Councillor Bruce Kent and our CEO Ali Wastie.
I'm also required to read a message from the Minister, the Federal Minister, I'll now read that.
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, The Honorable Andrew Giles: Thank you for deciding to become an Australian citizen. Today you join a nation as one of the world's most successful multicultural societies with around half of all Australians either born overseas, or with at least one parent born overseas.
In Australia everyone can be proud of who they are and everyone should be respected value and feel a sense of belonging. We are privileged to share this beautiful country with the world's oldest consuming culture. This is a fundamental part of who we are.
More than 60,000 years First Nations people have cared for country. Appreciating and understanding this truth is a vital part of what it means to be Australian.
Australians are united by a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law and freedom of speech, religion and association. Our Diversity is our greatest strength and we prosper by embracing this. We believe in a society in which everyone is equal regardless of their gender, faith, sexual orientation, age, ability, race, national or ethnic origin. Ours is the land of the fair, on which respect and compassion underpin our care for each other, and our willingness to reach out to those around us in times of need.
By becoming an Australian citizen you make a commitment to these values and to contribute to our evolving Australian story. On behalf of the Australian Government a heartfelt congratulations on becoming an Australian citizen.
Michael Whelan: I'll now read the preamble of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007. Sorry, this is… we have to go through all these words. So as preamble: Australian citizenship represents a full and formal membership of the community of the Commonwealth of Australia and Australian citizenship is a common bond, involving reciprocal rights and obligations uniting all Australians, while respecting their diversity. Persons on whom Australian citizenship is conferred enjoy these rights and undertake to accept these obligations by pledging loyalty to Australia and its people; and by sharing their democratic beliefs; by respecting their rights and liberties; by upholding and obeying the laws of Australia. I now hand over to our Deputy Mayor Councillor Halstead to take you through making your pledge of commitment to Australia, it is a legal requirement you say the pledge out loud.
Cr Rochelle Halstead: These days are so exciting. I can just feel the energy in the room, you're all looking a little bit anxious and a bit nervous but trust me we don't bite and once it's all over, we'll be able to relax, have afternoon tea and a bit of a breather so we'll get straight into it.
At this stage I will call your name and I'll ask you to come forward to the front of the room to give your pledge. Each candidate is to state your first name and surname individually so if you're in a family, each person in the family has to state the pledge as well. Once you've made your pledge, you will each receive a gift and certificate. So, without further to do, the first person for Australia Day 2023…
[Individuals come forward each and read their pledge].
Cr Halstead: Congratulations to you all and please join me in one big hurrah and massive clap because it's so exciting for you all. Thank you.
Michael Whelan (34:52): Before we move on to the next part, which is the affirmation, I just like to say... acknowledge the work that Rhonda in particular did in putting all of those gifts together and to acknowledge the fact that they're all sourced, I believe, might be putting myself out here, but all sorts of local produce and things so it's a good thing that we do supporting local businesses.
I'd like to now ask everyone here to please stand and join in the affirmation which will be displayed on the screen. Everyone can now please read with me.
As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people whose democratic beliefs I share whose rights and liberties I respect and whose laws I uphold and obey.
That's it, you can take the seats now. Thank you. As advised when you apply to your citizenship, your information will be provided to our local Member of Parliament and they may send you a welcome letter. So, congratulations to all our new Australians today, we will take a group photo and this can become fairly chaotic. So, I asked the new citizens to come up straight away so we can get the photo out of the way because you all want to mingle with your friends and relatives here today and enjoy the moment. If we can get the photo out of the way that'd be really great, take your own then subsequently and also then join us for a bit of afternoon tea. So, we will be having...
Cr Halstead (36:29): Excuse me Mr Mayor. I don't know if everyone knows the Australian anthem, but I think it's probably a good idea if we sing it and if you don't know the words that's fine. I'll sing it for you. Alrighty, so if you want to join in, join in...
[Advance Australia Fair sung with no backing led by Cr Halstead].
Michael Whelan (37:33): What I just like to say is that in traditional Australian parlance, that's usually followed by a cheer for whichever club you've decided to follow. So, without anything further to do, can I ask the new citizens to come up to the front here please for a photo.
Questions without answers
Here’s how the questions were asked and (not) answered at the Wednesday, February 15 council meeting:
On the topic ‘Australian National Anthem’.
- Rob Langford (Phillip Island): Could you explain why the Australian National Anthem was not scheduled to be sung at the 2023 Australia Day Bass Coast Citizenship ceremony? Whose decision was that and will you commit to ensuring it does not happen at all future citizenship ceremonies
- Kevin Griffin (Wonthaggi): The Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code advises that the Australian National Anthem ‘Advance Australia Fair’ should be played. The failure of Council not to play the national anthem at the recent citizenship awards ceremony should concern all councillors. What procedures will Council put in place to ensure that such oversights are not repeated?
- Levinus Van Der Neut (Coronet Bay): It seems to me that the ‘Welcome to Country’ and the apology to our Aboriginal people was deemed more important than singing the national anthem at our recent citizenship ceremony for our 33 new Australian citizens. Could you please explain to me why this happened? Why do some members of this Council and its office sector to listen to minority politics?
Bass Coast Shire Council Answer: "In recent years the practice of playing the national anthem at citizenship ceremonies has been inconsistent and Council commits to playing it at all future ceremonies."
