Liam McNally
A leader of a Melton Aboriginal corporation has suggested Melton council rethink its approach to January 26.
This is the first year councils no longer need to hold a citizenship ceremony on January 26, following federal law changes.
Melton council is going ahead with its usual Australia Day celebration on January 26, with a citizenship ceremony, speeches from community award winners, a sausage sizzle, and live entertainment.
Kirrip chief executive Peter Webster said he wants council to “re-evaluate their stance” on January 26.
“Melton council is very supportive of Kirrip, and is very supportive of the Aboriginal community around Melton,” he said.
“Personally I would love to see them do something more in the way of Maribyrnong [council’s event], or at least cut out the citizenship ceremony on the 26th of January.
“The 26th of January is a date that actually separates all Australians, it doesn’t bring everyone together, it’s not a national celebration.”
Melton council chief executive Roslyn Wai said arrangements for a citizenship ceremony on January 26 were made before the federal government’s announcement, and about 200 people had already been invited to become new citizens on this day.
Ms Wai said council’s reconciliation advisory committee has not met since the federal government’s announcement, but it intends to discuss the federal change and provide advice to council for future years.
This January 26, Kirrip Aboriginal Corporation is holding a Survival Day Breakfast to support the community while it mourns and remembers ancestors who can only be present in spirit.
Mr Webster said the breakfast, which will be happening at Kirrip on Exford Road from 9.30am, will be for all the community.
“It’s a place where people can come and heal … elders can share their views and their stories with our younger generation and pass on to them what’s happened in the past … what historically our ancestors have gone through and fought for,” he said.
Mr Webster is a proponent of changing the date of Australia’s national celebration to the day Australia officially became a nation on January 1.
