December 11th 2024.
In a recent decision, multiple councils in Victoria have decided to once again acknowledge January 26 as Australia Day. This decision was made at the Geelong City Council's meeting last night, where they voted to commemorate the date and end any efforts to change it from 2026 onwards. The motion, introduced by Cr Eddy Kontelj, was passed with a vote of seven to four, marking a change from their decision last year to no longer celebrate the date.
Moving forward, a report will be prepared and presented at the next meeting on January 28. This decision comes just a year after the council voted to support a revamp of how the city observes January 26, acknowledging the painful history it holds for the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners and First Nations Peoples of the Geelong Region. These reforms were a result of a six-month consultation period between May and November 2022, where the council received 957 responses on the idea of not recognizing January 26 as Australia Day.
Following Geelong's lead, other councils such as the City of Greater Bendigo also made changes to their Australia Day celebrations, including moving their citizenship ceremony. During the meeting last night, Cr Kontelj emphasized that the change was not meant to disrespect anyone in the community, including First Nations people. He acknowledged that this decision may not be welcomed by a portion of the community, but he respected their perspective.
Cr Kontelj further explained that the purpose of the motion was to simply confirm that the decision to proclaim January 26 as Australia Day lies with the Federal Government. He also noted that since the adoption of the January 26 report in May 2023, the council had received significant feedback and concerns from the Geelong community. During the meeting, he was interrupted by community members who voiced their opinions.
Another council that made a similar decision was the Strathbogie Shire Council, which covers Avenel, Euroa, Strathbogie, Longwood, and Nagambie in central Victoria. They also passed a motion last night, which reinstated their support for January 26 celebrations while committing to reviewing their policy on the occasion. The council announced that they would present a report in April regarding events held on Australia Day.
The Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor, Claire Ewart-Kennedy, explained that they had taken community feedback into account and recognized the significance of Australia Day to many in their community. However, they were also aware of the ongoing discussions about this date. She stated that while their position had shifted from their previous stance, it was rooted in their commitment to supporting local community events that bring people together and reflect their diverse community spirit.
In 2017, Victoria's Merribek council had stopped recognizing January 26 as Australia Day, and in September 2022, the Melbourne City Council voted to campaign for the federal government to change the date of Australia Day. For those who want to stay updated on the latest news, sport, politics, and weather, they can download the 9News app, which sends notifications straight to their smartphones. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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