​Why I’m disappointed

Why I’m disappointed

17/2/2023

Photo: Royal Australian Historical Society

By John Cobbledick

AS A proud Australian of English/Irish descent, “transported as convicts on the first and second fleets”, I am disgusted with the attitude of the Bass Coast Shire Council regarding Australia Day.

What a disgrace no national anthem was played as part of the official ceremony on January 26 for those who proudly received their citizenship. We proud Australians of Bass Coast apparently do have some representation on the council in the person of Deputy Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead who invited those attending to join in singing the anthem. Thank you, Councillor.

I remind the council and shire officers that Australia Day is a day of celebration for all Australians: black, white, and those by choice. It is unforgivable that I and many others have been excluded from celebrating this day as it should be celebrated, by a shire that claims inclusiveness and tolerance.

All the talk about the wrongs of our past history by Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan (and there were many) do nothing for the future. We can learn from the past but we can’t change it, so why try.

To Aboriginal people and to self-loathing white people, this is not a racist post in any way or form, just the truth as I see it.

The Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 was enacted on January 26 1949, and that is when the Australian nationality came into existence. That was the day we were first called Australians and allowed to travel with passports as Australians and NOT British subjects. In 1949, therefore, we all became Australian citizens. Before that special date, all people living in Australia, including Aboriginal people, were called “British subjects” and forced to travel on British passports and fight in British wars.

This is why we celebrate Australia Day on January 26. This was the day Australians became free to make our own decisions about which wars we would fight and how our citizens would be treated. It was the day we were all declared Australians. For the first time since Captain Cook’s landing, this new Act gave Aboriginal Australians the full protection of Australian Law.
So, I ask, why call it Invasion Day? Why call it a day of shame?

Cook landed on Australian shores on April 28 1770. Eighteen years later, on January 18 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay with the First Fleet. He found the bay unsuitable for the establishment of a settlement, and on January 26 1788 the fleet sailed north to Port Jackson, where the settlement was established.

So there are two significant events in Australia’s history on January 26, 171 years apart.

As a proud Australian I see no need for the animosity shown towards celebrating Australia Day on January 26. I see no need for changing the date. What I do see is all Australians –Aboriginal, generational white, and immigrant – have something to celebrate on this date.

We are, after all, one nation. We should be under one flag, and we should have no more racial argument. I know there are differing opinions and I know there will be some comments about what I have left out of my historical input, but what is said is factual and relevant.

Editor's note: At this week’s council meeting, several people queried the decision not to play the National Anthem at the citizenship ceremony. Council CEO Ali Wastie responded: “In recent years the practice of playing the National Anthem has been inconsistent. Council commits to playing it at all future citizenship ceremonies.“

30 Comments

Joy Button

19/2/2023 10:18:20 am

John, I support what you are saying 100% ..... as one nation we should be proud of our heritage even though history clearly shows the injustice inflicted on aboriginal people since white settlement.
We will never be able to remove this injustice.
However, we should all be proud of being Australian and being blessed to live in such a great beautiful country.
One way in which we can show our love of country is in proudly standing and singing our national anthem.

Janice Orchard

19/2/2023 10:23:09 am

While Australia is not the land of my birth, it is the land of my choosing as I am one of the millions of migrants who came here in search of a better life. I found it.
When I became an Australian citizen at the Wonthaggi town hall some years ago, I stood with my hand on my heart and sung the national anthem along with the many other new Australians. We had all come from different countries, held different religious beliefs and were of different colours. But our hearts swelled with pride as we swore allegiance to this brave new land that had welcomed us all. The national anthem, sung with gusto in different accents filled the town hall. It has taken many cultures to build this nation and make it the safe place that it is where we are free to work, build a business and raise our families with respect to all cultures.
I am a proud Australian. What a pity some on our council can’t say the same and continue to try to block those who do with fear and intimidation. Well done Cr Rochelle Hallstead for standing up for what was the right thing to do. Raise your voices and sing.

Peter Bogg

19/2/2023 10:23:10 am

John, what a welcome relief to those attending the citizenship ceremony in not to have to endure listening to the national dirge.

It is a second rate piece of music with words that are so meaningless, very few Australian even know them. (let alone know that there is a second verse).

By all means, play it to yourself in the privacy of your own home, but don't insist that the rest of us have to listen to it.

Catherine Watson

19/2/2023 01:22:17 pm

Peter, growing up in NZ I always thought we had the worst national anthem in the world ... until I came to Australia. What a shocker. Also now unintentionally offensive with its "young ... free ... fair".
I was very glad when I became an Australian citizen in the Richmond Town Hall in 2000 that Advance Australia Fair was NOT played. What I always admired about Australia and Australians generally was that they mocked anthems and other nationalistic hoo ha.

John Cobbledick

22/2/2023 07:29:08 pm

Catherine, Offensive ?"Young "," Free," "Fair" Australia is Young 206 years Old in fact ,and Yes we are still relatively Free although with the Globalist movement this is changing and we are still relatively Fair But as our Democracy is eroded this is Also changing

John Cobbledick

22/2/2023 06:31:46 pm

Peter, You don't like our anthem, and you certainly don't have to sing it YOUR CHOICE .On national occasions Australians should at least play the anthem and those attending should show RESPECT when it is played .I do not think it is a great anthem in words or music .I would much rather Waltzing Matilda , or I am we are Australian .But we have what we have, and as a proud and patriotic Australian I respect it ,I will never understand why everything that defines Australia must be changed because a minority don't like it or may be offended .Change the DATE Change the FLAG Change the ANTHEM Change the NAME

John Taylor

19/2/2023 12:10:16 pm

Peter Bogg. It is always your choice to join with your fellow Australians in celebrating who we are and what sort of nation we have developed into since 1788 by not singing our National Anthem. Should you be displeased with your lot in life in Australia, please feel free to sing another Anthem somewhere else.

Peter Bogg

19/2/2023 09:02:05 pm

John, I am not displeased with my lot in life, I am displeased with our national anthem. We should change it, it is a national embarrassment.

Monica Smith link

19/2/2023 08:41:21 pm

Is our national anthem really any worse than all the National Anthems from all over the world. I personally would love to have "We are Australian" as our Anthem as i think it embodies what Australia is & has been! But, if we can't have that song, I'm proud to sing the National Anthem that we have now & remember the pride I felt being able to sing that as an Australian the day I was naturalised! Maybe, if you don't like it just spare a thought for all the people from parts of the world that aren't as blessed as we are, that have risked their lives to be able to sing this Anthem!

Peter Bogg

19/2/2023 09:34:18 pm

Yes it is that bad. It is not just my opinion, but also my 2yo grandson. I played various national anthems to him and by far he showed the most interest in the South African anthem. Many others elicited an excited response too (German, New Zealand, American, French etc), but he showed no interest in the Australian anthem.

It is so hopeless that the wording was outright wrong and required a change from 'young' (lie, as it totally disregarded how long the indigenous people had been here) to 'one'.

It uses a word that no-one in Australia ever uses (except when singing the Anthem) - Girt.

It is also embarrassingly inaccurate. For instance, two lines in the second verse state:

'For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share'.

Tell that to people who had languished on Manus and Nauru for many years, or the Biloela family.

I have been racking my brains to think of any people from all parts of the world that have risked their lives to be able to sing this Anthem. I can't think of any.

Nobody need risk their lives to sing it. They could just go ahead and sing it. That is, if they are like 0.01% of the Australian population that actually know the words.

And I agree 'We are Australians' would be a thousand times better as our Anthem.

Catherine Watson

19/2/2023 10:22:20 pm

Glad your 2yo grandson liked the South African anthem, Peter. That is my favourite anthem of any I have heard. A beautiful tune and nothing nationalistic about it. It's a song calling to other South Africans. Plus it's sung in five languages: isiXhosa, isiZulu, seSotho, Afrikaans and English.
Personally I would choose Waltzing Matilda for Australia. It would be the rarest anthem in the world: a song of the dispossessed. I find it very moving.

John Cobbledick

22/2/2023 06:57:15 pm

Peter The word YOUNG a lie ?? AUSTRALIA has only existed for 206 years so it is a young Country .Lachlan Macquarie replaced NEW HOLLAND , with AUSTRALIA in 1817. You are disrespectful of Australian Law when you quote Manus Nauru, and the Biloela family .They are ILLEGAL Immigrants under Australian law ,Like it or not

Christine

22/2/2023 08:00:46 pm

For everyone's information, the word "young" was changed to "one", - so "we are one and free" - officially in 2021. One of the many changes to our anthem over the years. See the articles I've put website addresses below about this. So please calm down everyone. Semantics is not strong grounds for any argument anyway. Let's keep this nice if at all possible, or you all look like degrading into a bunch of Parliament question time rabble.

Christine

23/2/2023 01:05:47 pm

John, that 'illegal' family has just quietly donated $10,000 of their own saved hard-earned money towards keeping the doors of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre open. I have also donated a much lesser amount. If the ASRC closes, all of the stateless people who depend totally on that centre literally go without food. Do you see that as a 'legal' problem? I don't. I see it as a humanitarian problem and totally unacceptable in an 'advanced' society. So how much are you going to donate? Or does that go against your 'principles'? If so, I feel pity for you, and do not wish to align myself with sort of nation you see Australia as being, if that is the way it treats anyone in distress from anywhere.

Peter Bogg

23/2/2023 03:00:41 pm

John, tell me, do you even little bit hypocritical when you sing, with your hand on your heart:

"For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share"

When if fact, if they come across the seas in boats you don't want to share anything with them?

Rob Parsons

20/2/2023 10:19:45 am

Brilliant. Well done and well said John Cobbledick. This IS our National Anthem whether we like it or not (and I do agree that it is not necessarily the best National Anthem). However it is what we have and should be shown RESPECT. Obviously Peter Bogg does not mix in the circles where there are many many Australians who regularly sing the National Anthem. There is considerably more than the 0.01% that he claims. I am so please that our CEO Ali Wastie has agreed that it will be sung at future ceremonies. She has risen considerably in my estimation. I also fully agree with what Janice Orchard and Monica Smith have said. Well said again.

Peter Bogg

20/2/2023 12:32:20 pm

Rob, you are right, I don't mix in circles where many many Australians regularly sing the national Anthem. In fact, I don't anyone who has sung the Australian anthem at all, ever.

When was the last time you sang it? How many times are year do you do it? Can you sing it from go to wow without looking up the words?

And who are these many many Australians that sing it regularly you talk about? Even elites sports people 'representing' Australia on the international stage just mumble along. The anthem is hardly inspiring them to greater effort.

Rob Parsons

20/2/2023 01:03:35 pm

Peter, my Probus Club sing the National Anthem every month at their meetings, as I believe many other Probus Clubs throughout Australia do as well. When I was in Rotary (which I was for 25 years) we sang it every week... now thats a lot of times (my maths says over 1,250 times) and yes, sorry but I do know the words from go to wow (albeit not the second verse!)

Yes I agree that sports people have no idea, and you see them on TV not singing or trying to mouth the words, but how many times are they asked to sing it? Maybe once a year if they get to a final. Not much chance of them learning the words.

But I think you miss the point. Its not whether you know the words or can sing it. It is our Australian National Anthem and as such as a proud Aussie who has declared his allegiance to this country, the anthem should be shown some respect. Sorry but I totally disagree with your opening comments and the way you have phrased it "a welcome relief to those attending the citizenship ceremony in not to have to endure listening to the national dirge". You are entitled to your opinion but it is not a national dirge to many other people. I was proud to have the National Anthem played at my Australian Citizenship ceremony in Wonthaggi.

Dr. Lynda Hanlon

20/2/2023 11:48:33 am

I fully agree with John Cobbledick. I too am the proud descendant of an Irish convict, however when I voiced a similar opinion to John a few years ago in The Advertiser, I was harangued, bullied and called a racist. "Free speech" and a difference of opinion come at a price. I put my name to my letter, yet not one of the negative comments in response to my letter was signed. The council and other organisations should play the National Anthem and stop feeling guilty for things they weren't responsible for. We cannot change the past, but we can ensure that we don't make the same mistakes.

Peter Bogg

20/2/2023 12:36:40 pm

Dr. Lynda Hanlon, I agree the council should play a national anthem.

It is a shame that our national anthem is so embarrassingly awful. Until they we get a better one, councils should refrain from playing/singing it. .

Rob Parsons

20/2/2023 01:07:00 pm

Peter, I am so pleased that Ali Wastie our Bass Coast CEO disagrees with you.

Monica Smith link

20/2/2023 08:00:08 pm

I so agree with Rob & Lynda Hanlon. My Probus Club sings the National Anthem at every meeting!
As for our athletes mumbling along, are they any different to other athletes from all over the world mumbling along with their respective Anthems, it doesn't mean that they don't feel great pride just hearing their Anthem played & knowing that it's an acknowledgement for the effort they put in to make our country proud. Is there really anything wrong in feeling national pride when hearing our Anthem, whether you like the particular anthem or not, it represents one's country & we've already been told multiple times that we should be ashamed of so many things that Australia stands for, stand up & be proud to sing the Anthem, every night when I look at the news on T.V I thank God that I live in Australia!

Peter Bogg

20/2/2023 10:10:54 pm

Monica I not against singing the National Anthem. I just don't like our current anthem. It is so underwhelming people are not inspired enough to learn the lyrics and sing it.

I went to the cricket once and was having a drink in a nearby pub before the match, when a bunch of English fans launched into a rendition of 'Jerusalem'. The pub went quiet and gave them a hearty cheer when they finished. It gave me goosebumps and I thought why can't we have an anthem like that. An anthem people would be happy to sing.

Jerusalem is sometimes called the unofficial anthem of England and below is a link of it being played at the 'Last Night of the Proms'. you will note the audience know the words and are inspired to sing along.

https://youtu.be/sERiPuOQyvo

Christine

22/2/2023 10:37:46 am

Thanks for going to the trouble of putting pen to paper and writing your thoughts on this into an essay for BCP John. Although I don't agree with all of your sentiments, you did lead me to research our National Anthem further. The question is: which version of Advance Australia Fair are you referring to!? The words have certainly had many incarnations, appropriately being updated as needed. Time for another update! Of course that great Australian Judith Durham and a collaborative group, including Kutcha Edwards, Muthi Muthi Songlines man well-known to us in Bass Coast, had a go at a big re-write in 2009. You can all watch the joyous process of her and Kutcha, and a whole lot of young people, recording the anthem here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZrvnrplZgQ Anyway, here's a few links in case anyone is interested to read more about the anthem's evolution and its most interesting composer, about whom I previously knew nothing. The anthem: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Advance_Australia_Fair and the composer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Dodds_McCormick
Personally I think the tune is ok, because unlike many national anthems it doesn't require a good singing range to belt it out!

Monica Smith link

22/2/2023 08:10:13 pm

Thanks Christine I hadn't heard that Judith Durham version before & I agree it would suit our country much better than the one we have now!
But the thing is, we haven't got it now & until the powers that be decide to replace our current version if they ever do, the old one is the one that we have & it represents our country! We should be proud to sing it. There's a few songs that the English sing at sporting venue's Peter, apart from Jerusalem & You'll never walk Alone, the English like singing, but you'll find that they sing 'God Save our King' with just as much gusto because it is the official British Anthem & they are proud of it! I think it's about time Australians showed how proud we are of our country, not just by supporting sports but by actively showing pride in the beautiful country we live in, part of that is being proud to sing our anthem even if its not the song of choice!

Rob Parsons

23/2/2023 10:36:24 am

Well said Monica. Hundred percent agree with every word you have said. Could not have expressed it any better myself. We need to be Proud, Patriotic and Respecting of our great country Australia.

John Cobbledick

23/2/2023 07:05:26 pm

To Peter and Christine I am unable to reply to your last posts in the usual way Think I am being censored as was my original post so this will have to do---------Christine , no I will not be donating to an organization that is ok with people breaking our laws .Laws which are the same as every other country in the World protecting borders

Peter Not one bit Hypocritical I welcome Immigrants always have always will providing they are invited .You would not allow a stranger to just walk into your home without confronting them and throwing them out Who is the Hypocrite?

Peter Bogg

23/2/2023 08:58:55 pm

John, that is one reason why the Anthem needs replacing. It doesn't say anything about being invited. It is an open invitation to everyone from overseas to come here as we have boundless plains to share with them.

Changing the meaning of the Anthem, as you have done, is curious given how you normally so adamant in defending it.

The words in an anthem are important. If words don't matter then you may as well call 'Happy Birthday' the Anthem and sing that.

CHRISTINE GRAYDEN

23/2/2023 10:03:06 pm

Well John, just like the refugee problem your topic has spread beyond its original borders. John your comments on refugees and illegal immigrants are truly ironic, since we all live on stolen Country that was invaded illegally by the British under the guise of its being terra nullius - empty land. That was a 'law'. Think about your attitude please. The 21st century is already seeing the greatest movement of climate, war, political and economic refugees the world has ever seen. Over 103 million refugees and displaced persons. 74% are housed in low or middle income countries. Tukriye alone is housing 3.7 million registered Syrian refugees while trying to deal with massive natural disasters. Iran - that most vilified of countries in the West - has 850,000 official refugees and 3.2 million other undocumented people from Afghanistan, who were forced to flee without documents from decades of wars. Fleeing so fast there is no time to gather anything let alone documents is very common for refugees. Sudan is trying to cope with 3.5 million internally displaced persons and those from nearby countries.In a terrible irony, Poland is housing 1.2 million Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian refugees, while Russia is housing 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees. Germany currently houses 2.2 million refugees from 5 different countries from both the African and European continents. Meanwhile Australia has a 'humanitarian intake' of only about 13,000 each year.

What sort of role model are we giving to our young people if we continue with insisting on these artificial boundaries that do not marry remotely with geographic and environmental realities? It is one world - always has been and always will be until the sun destroys its solar system. Old colonial attitudes and laws are not at all helpful with the modern situation. Not in any shape or form. Environmental catastrophes such as desertification, species extinctions, erosion, overheated soil causing uncontrollable fires, pollution, sea temperature rise, airborne pollutants circulating the globe on massive air and sea currents, increasing wave height and strength, toxic chemical storages giving way and spilling contents across thousands of square kilometers, etc, etc - none of these respect boundaries. We are all world citizens and need to start behaving as though we are responsible world citizens. Otherwise we are simply not going to survive. Wars over resources will spread like wildfires - literally, because they may well be nuclear wars. So, I ask again - what sort of role model are we giving the young people who will bear the brunt of our actions if we just keep closing ranks, 'defending our borders' claiming we have the law on our side and turning away those in desperate need? Because those same young people are going to have to deal with just those situations. And they may even find themselves as boat people. That is not dystopian fantasy - it is happening as we speak on at least three continents, and even to some of our nearest neighbours in the Pacific. No one ever expects or welcomes becoming a refugee of any kind. Step outside your comfortable privileged paradigm and exercise a little imagination and empathy please.

Catherine Watson, Editor

24/2/2023 10:10:38 am

Well, it's been an interesting, far-ranging conversation but it's getting a little personal. This conversation is now closed.

​Why I’m disappointed

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Why I’m disappointed