Australia Day Speech by Jenny Gardiner, MP,
Deputy President of the NSW Legislative Council
Australia Day Breakfast, Hallidays Point, 26 Jan 2012
Cr Alan Tickle, Lions Jack McDonald and John Griffiths, distinguished guests.
I would like to show my respect and acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Biripi and Worimi people, on which this celebration takes place and their elders, past and present.
The work of the Lions Club of Hallidays Point – and other sponsors in contributing to this event, is acknowledged, including that of the terrific band of people who make up the Diamond Beach RFS and the Hallidays Point Probus Choir.
I'd also note that the RFS and the Choir, along with the Butcher, the Newsagency, the Bakery, the supermarket and this Surf Club are so often on the list of those who contribute handsomely to the staging of events that enable our celebrations and enhance our sense of community here. Thank you all.
Ladies & Gentleman, girls & boys,
It's Australia Day, a holiday; for some, the last day or so of the Summer break here in and on this wonderful string of villages and their fabulous beaches. I hope you've had as much fun this summer at home, or as visitors, as I've had with my family here this year.
Today's holiday marks the 224th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships, commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip, which sailed from Portsmouth in Great Britain, to Port Jackson in 1788. Since 1838 that event has been celebrated on the 26th of January.
So here, as in many places, we commemorate this great country and recognise the qualities of its inhabitants who add to making Australia such a wonderful place to live and who are probably its greatest attribute.
In reflecting on the year just past, we can recall many terrific examples of the Australian spirit, as ordinary Australians demonstrated extraordinary mateship, courage and selflessness in reaching out to others threatened by the floods in eastern Australia. Many unaffected reached into their pockets for donations ; to do their bit, just as they did the year before in the wake of the Victorian bushfires.
And now, there are more people helping each other out in this weekend's floods further up the coast.
As well as reflecting on aspects of the character of the Australian people, we can recall the inevitable struggles of those peoples of other countries to gain what we have here – almost in the air we breathe – democracy; freedom of speech; the rule of law.
At Federation, Australia became the first nation to come into existence following a people's vote on a democratic constitution.
The Arab Spring – uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya - and the loosening of the shackles of authoritarianism in Burma after years of untold repression and suffering – are examples of the human yearning elsewhere for the elements of democracy we enjoy right here - and the battle that other peoples must endure to attain them, even in the 21st century.
Today many people will become Australian citizens. As a former Prime Minister noted, ..."People come to this country because they want to be Australians"... (although I'd note that, most of those on the First Fleet didn't have much choice!) but, he went on to say, “there is no institution or code that lays down a test of Australianness”.
Matthew Hayden, cricketer, did perhaps once offer an informal test of Australianness when he said:
You never want an Australian with his back against the wall. You put any 12 blokes together and you'll get a job done. Whether it's getting a bogged four-wheel-drive off the beach or standing in front of a cricket wicket and making sure we're in a dominant position. It's the same dog, different leg action, so to speak.
The Indian cricket team would probably join Clarke and Ponting in agreeing with that definition on this Australia Day.
And, of course, you can say the same about any 12 Australian women – or any combination of Australian men and women.
Most of the time, those of us lucky enough to have been born in Australia take our Australianness for granted. But sometimes it hits home – and that's often when we are away from home. Overseas. That has happened to me from time to time. For example, I wandered into the Bath Abbey in England one day and was not expecting to be confronted by an Australian flag. It was there as part of a commemoration of the life of Captain Arthur Phillip who is buried nearby. I was deeply moved by this chance and unexpected connection with home.
Another time I wandered into the great Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens, and there was another Australian flag, along with the Canadian flag. The people of France have never forgotten that communities like Amiens were saved by Australians, soldiers from so far away, soldiers like my grandfather, who went there to fight to uphold shared freedoms and values.
I'm sure many of you have felt that lump in your throat when you've been far away and when you've felt your Australianness unexpectedly and felt happy and proud of our country's contributions and achievements in the world.
D.H. Lawrence came to Australia to write and he said:
You feel free in Australia. There is great relief in the atmosphere - a relief from tension, from pressure, an absence of control of will or form. The Skies open above you and the areas open around you.
Well, the skies have opened and that's why we're inside. It's dry and we've got sausages with which to celebrate! So, let's enjoy being here, united in celebrating what's great about Australia and being Australian. Let's have a Happy Australia Day.
