IT truly is the discourse that keeps on giving.
Those in attendance at the Australia Day breakfast in Gawler will attest that, regardless of one’s stance on the day itself, it was hard not to get swept up in the community spirit.
Wading through droves of deck chairs, negotiating the never-ending line for coffee after the early start, throwing coins at the six-foot sausage raffle like it was going out of fashion – it was a feast for the senses.
Some were there to celebrate the nation they call home, what it stands for and means to them.
Others were there to celebrate the achievements of family and friends during the award presentations, leading to some particularly tear-jerking moments.
For a select few, the morning represented the final step in their quest to realising a dream of becoming an Australian citizen.
The dozen-or-so that took the stage and recited an oath led by Gawler Mayor Karen Redman could hardly have the smiles wiped off of their faces.
Some of their perspectives can be found on page two of last week’s Bunyip (January 31), but the common theme, as was the case in the speech of 2023 South Australian Police Officer of the Year Gary Wills, who came across in the late 2000s from Northern Ireland, was absolute delight at officially calling the land girt by sea home.
Mr Wills went on to give a breathtaking 15-minute account of his journey and what he has achieved in the local community through the Blue Rose project, which elicited a raucous round of applause from those in attendance.
However, delight was not the only theme of the day.
Part of this week’s Bunyip is a widespread account of Australia Day celebrations across our readership area.
Adelaide Plains, Barossa, Gawler, Playford and Light all held their own Australia Day events, complete with speeches, presentations and breakfast.
The theme across a great number of these speeches was the want to celebrate the country we have and the opportunities that come with the privilege (in every sense of the word) of being Australian.
Widespread discussions were had about how multicultural we are and the need to stop the divisiveness so we can celebrate together as a nation.
While the sentiment of wanting unity is undeniably noble and some expert PR, it is difficult to understand why – when this sentiment is coming from people of importance and high stature – nothing has changed to truly achieve this.
Seeing people gleefully make the choice to become Australian was undoubtedly good for the soul, but the contradiction of amplifying this celebration on a day that represents so much pain to so many people – the Traditional Custodians of the Land no less – cannot be lost.
Barossa Mayor Bim Lange described the day as a chance to “reflect, respect and celebrate”.
Perhaps we need to add a fourth instruction – to act
