Dear Friends and Owners of Unley,
You may think that the hottest event is the unprecedented 46°C
temperatures in the European cities. The TV pictures show lots of baking houses
and very, very, few trees. The hottest until our summer seems to be……
Following publication in the Advertiser, the Council and Mayor have
received many complaints about Council holding our Australia Day Citizens’ ceremony
on the evening before.
The facts,
·
The date of Australia Day is a Commonwealth
responsibility, not the Local Government.
·
The Commonwealth gave us the decision to make as
to whether to hold our Citizenship ceremony on any one of three days.
·
The elected Council on behalf of our community
voted 7-5 to hold the Citizenship ceremony the evening before in Jan 2024
·
For 2025 Council will need to decide once again
what to do.
I was asked, “ Shouldn’t you consult and find out what your community
wants?” Answer: Our Unley residents can contact their local Ward Councillor. Our
Councillors listen. However, whatever Council decides, it tends to be only those
who disagree who speak up.
·
Australia Day celebrations these days are
rightly far more inclusive of Aboriginal communities and issues.
We have much to celebrate as a multicultural democratic nation. I am glad I was born an Australian Citizen, and I am pleased to welcome others who wish to join us.
Michael
