SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL DAY
Dear Editor,
A survey published within the last two weeks showed that 63 per cent of people support Australia Day on January 26th. I believe that Council should reinstate holding citizenship ceremonies on January 26th because that’s where they belong. We have a lot to be proud of in Australia and should be teaching this to our youth. Council’s remit is rates, roads and rubbish, not politics. We live in a democracy, and as such, should be consulted about important issues like Australia Day before any changes are made. I want to live in a cohesive society where everyone is equal. I wish everyone a very happy Australia Day.
Kind regards, Jenny Carter
Shepparton
AUSTRALIA DAY COMMITTEE CARRYS ON WITHOUT COUNCIL
Dear Editor,
The Tatura Australia Day Committee have operated since 1975. We are proud of the celebrations we have been instrumental in organising for nearly the last 50 years. In more recent times we have seen attendances well above 200 people as they enjoy the day each year, and we are constantly receiving warm congratulations and thanks from attendees, with some of them travelling from Melbourne.
Greater Shepparton City Council (GGSC) have supported our Australia Day celebrations for over 25 years. However, when we commenced planning for the 2024, we were advised that there was a possibility we would not receive a grant if we held our celebration on the 26th. This advice was confirmed when we visited the GSSC website and reviewed the 2024 Small Town Community Celebration Grants.
The document stated: “Greater Shepparton City Council recognises that Australia Day, held on 26 January, remains Australia’s national day, however it is not a day of celebration for all particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. In recognition of this, Council resolved to replace the Australia Day Small Town Grants Program with a Small Town Community Celebrations Grants Program that provides funding for the Greater Shepparton community to hold their own celebrations on 23-25 January, or 27-29 January”.
We are an Australia Day Committee of 12 members and because of our history and longevity, we are an excellent cross section of the Tatura and surrounding communities.
We surveyed many of the local service (and other) clubs, businesses, and much of the population within Tatura, and there was an overwhelming opinion that regardless of council’s decision, we must hold our event on the actual Australia Day – January 26th. We did consider other options including changing the day of celebration however given the “mood” of the residents, the Australia Day Committee voted unanimously to hold the celebration on the 26th January 2024.
Also, the Murchison Australia Day Committee initially planned their celebrations on an alternative day, and they received funding. Many residents approached the Committee, to the extent a survey was conducted in Murchison and given the feedback, it was determined that they alter their celebration back to the 26th. This decision resulted in the Murchison Australia Day Committee having to return the funding back to GSSC.
Our decision to hold celebrations on the 26th has resulted in GSSC for the first time in over 20 years, rejecting the Tatura Australia Day (and Murchison) application to fund celebrations purely because we are holding them on the actual Australia Day.
This is despite completing the Funding Application exactly the same as previous years, yet it was rejected. The wording in the letter we received from Council stated: “Your application for funding was considered along with other applications for this program and I regret to inform you that on this occasion you were unsuccessful, due to the application not meeting the grant program guidelines.”
The only guidelines we did not meet was our event was to be held on the 26th of January. It is so disappointing that they have taken this stance. We have always had over 200 people attend our celebrations and we have heavily relied on GSSC for funding, but not this year.
Whoever is responsible for this decision it is disappointing and bordering on shameful and we as a Committee will work hard to fund our celebration and we will not be bullied by anyone at GSSC.
What a terrible decision GSSC has made. It is interesting to note the Council offices are closed on January 26th, 2024, because of the holiday I was advised. This in my opinion reeks of a double standard by Council. They recognise the holiday on the 26th January but not the celebration.
One councillor was noted as stating, “the recommendation acknowledged the individual feelings the community has surrounding the date.” He is certainly not speaking to residents in Tatura and/or Murchison! I attended meetings where the date was discussed and as the issue became too “sensitive” and “divisive” for the community, and the meetings were ceased. However, Council still voted to not support the day.
There is no doubt the Australia Day debate has come back into discussion due to the Voice to Parliament referendum. Yet I am concerned about Council’s decision as this electorate was the second highest in Australia to vote NO to the referendum. Are our councillors really taking into consideration the thoughts and wishes of the people they represent or are they becoming “woke” like other councils?
Their decision in rejecting our application for funding is not in the best interests of ratepayers and in my opinion is bordering bully tactics to ensure we capitulate to Council’s wants and wishes.
There is a lot of dissatisfied residents over the western side and rate payers throughout the Council due to your actions of not “sticking to your own lane”. When are our councillors going to focus on Rates, Roads, Rubbish and focus on the needs of the ratepayers. They have in my opinion lost their way and are pathetic at reading what the ratepayers needs and wants are.
We need to think long and hard about who we elect at the next Council elections and get rid of the “woke” councillors. For those in Council who rejected our application hang your head in shame as you have acted in a disgraceful manner and what you have done is bordering on being un-Australian.
Rod Schubert
President of Tatura Australia Day Committee
