26 January 2010 in Blog
Australia Day
Australia Day is our opportunity to reflect and celebrate the things that unite us.
A united community made up of a collective of nationalities and histories, brought together to live in our inclusive and free society.
To be Australian does not require the disowning of your past but rather a willing commitment to our future.
We are an inclusive society that is beyond celebrating achievement because of a person’s background but rather because of what they have actually achieved.
Our Australia is the great society it is today because everyday people do extraordinary things to make our community what it is. Australia Day has rightly become the opportunity to recognise many of these everyday heroes who do so much for our community without being asked. These volunteers do this work not because of obligation but simply out of love. Love of their country and love of their community.
Australia encourages people to dream and to live their dream. Ones background does not preclude nor does it assure success in our Australia – success is assured by pursing your dream and giving it everything you have got.
And if you fail, we are there to offer a hand in an hour of need.
Mateship is our most recognisable Australian value. It stands alongside the values of freedom, of family, of respect for the rule of law and respect for your neighbour.
These values make the fabric of our nation strong.
So whether you are Australian by birth or you are a recent arrival – you have one very important thing in common – membership of the best club on earth.
A club that will remain strong while we are committed to the values that have held us together since the modern Australia was established.
The story continues and we all must recognise that we are not perfect and we can always do better and in some areas we must, but there is much to be proud of for all we have achieved thus far.
Happy Australia Day.