Image: Wikipedia
An Australia Day memory.
It was in Ceduna, on the far west coast of South Australia, on a day so hot and dry that when the road trains passed on their way to the Nullarbor, their diesel exhaust hung in the air seemingly without even the energy to fall. On the foreshore was one of those flag- waving, thong-throwing and barbecue jingo-fests, but the heat was taking its toll on the revelry.
I was there for a story and the stout-hearted mayor agreed to an interview but said he would be delayed because he needed to conduct a citizenship ceremony first. It was for just two people who were standing outside the council chambers when we arrived.
The mayor fumbled in his pocket for the keys to open the building because there had been a misunderstanding with the council staff and so he was running the whole show. Once inside, he flicked on the lights, and we entered the stuffy chamber. The mayor disappeared and returned with a small 1970s cassette player and two wattle seedlings in pots. He got onto his hands and knees in search of a power outlet under a desk to plug the machine into.
The couple stood silently next to a flag, looking a little nervous as the mayor slid on his chains and robes and cleared his throat.
‘Hang onto these for me will ya,’ he said, giving me the certificates as he launched into his official speech. At the end he presented the certificates and asked me to hand over the seedlings and take a photo for them. He then pushed play on the cassette player, which broadcast a scratchy, heat-wobbling version of the national anthem. We all sort of awkwardly stood to attention. Sweat ran down my spine. As the song trailed out, the mayor snapped off the cassette and said, ‘Well that is it – congratulations – welcome to Australia.’
At this point I noticed that it wasn’t perspiration running down the couple’s cheeks but tears. During this daggy, borderline comic ceremony, they were speechless in their joy. They were refugees from a war zone who has risked their lives to get here, learnt a new language and moved to a remote part of the country where they couldn’t believe the peace and opportunity they found. They worked nightshifts at a fuel stop and as cleaners and wanted to start a family. They hugged each other and then hugged the mayor and then shook my hand and thanked me for my part. It was disarming and humbling.
There is an argument to abolish January 26, and my preference would be to celebrate instead on Wattle Day because surely everyone agrees on the sheer beauty of this continent. What that morning in Ceduna confirmed for me though, is that there needs to be some day of national celebration so that moments like this are never missed.
To read more from Michael Sexton click HERE.
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Michael Sexton is a freelance journo in SA. His scribblings include “The Summer of Barry”, “Chappell’s Last Stand” and the biography of Neil Sachse.
Michael, there’s so much here at so many levels levels, all in about 450 words – a wonderful achievement in itself. Most importantly, it gives us all much to think about as we try to accommodate multiple perspectives of Australia Day.
If we really want/need an Australia Day it should be on January 1. On January 1 1901 the colonies came together creating what we now call Australia. There was no nation called Australia prior to then.
January 26? The vessels of the First Fleet entered into what we call Sydney Harbour between January 18 until January 20. We know the colonisers first sighted what is now called Port Jackson on January 21, and spent the next few days deciding where to make base. On January 26 Captain Phillip ‘claimed’ the land, naming it Sydney after Lord Sydney. Interestingly though the invading flag may have flown temporarily on January 26 it wasn’t until February 7 there was a permanent flag planted .
Surely if people want/need an Australia Day January 26 is not the date. I despair where a lot of this ‘debate’ is going. Truly, poor fellow my country.
Glen!
Brilliant. Ten years ago I went to a citizenship ceremony for the first time – in Fremantle to support a work colleague. Whatever – I thought – but was blown away by the diversity and gratitude of the assembled recipients.
The January 26th debate says it all for why a miserable flog like Dutton will be the next PM. The left spends all its time on symbolism and tokenism rather than substance.
This is so vivid, I feel like I’ve just seen a film.
It is very educational to be exposed other perspectives about Australia. If like me you have always lived here and tend to depair about the direction the place is going; a draught of positivity like you encountered is so important to add into the mix.
Thought provoking read. I am ambivalent about the date but I agree we should have a day of National celebration. One of the problems seems to be that those groups not happy with January 26 can’t agree amongst themselves an alternative date. Until that happens we will have the yearly hoo ha which doesn’t achieve anything.
Give me an agreed alternative date and I am on board.
Superb Mike certainly gives a totally different perspective- thank you