Macedon Ranges Shire Council will no longer host traditional Australia Day events on January 26, beginning next year.
Last week councillors voted 5-2 to move the date of its annual awards and citizenship ceremony to January 25 following passionate debate.
The vote also saw council’s Australia Day Awards renamed ‘Community Awards’ and increased the Australia Day grants program funding cap to $1000.
Macedon Ranges’ three Traditional Owner groups have indicated they view January 26 with strong negative emotion or do not wish to associate celebration with the day.
Cr Mark Ridgeway said the move addressed concerns of First Nations people and was “not a major departure” from traditional Australia Day activities.
“We’re all well aware of the controversy surrounding January 26 as our national day,” he said.
“The model takes a small step in helping to make our national day more inclusive, and supporting our First Nations and Traditional Owner residents.”
Cr Geoff Neil fought the move, stating “we just want to destroy our history”.
“On January 26, 1949, Australian nationality came into existence, when the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948 was enacted. This was the day we were first called Australians,” he said.
“(The Act) gave freedom and protection to the first Australians and gives Australians old and new the right to live under protection of Australian law, united as one nation.
“Yet, today, as leaders in this municipality, we appear determined to deny the right to citizenship on January 26 – a day that should be full of celebration.
“I may not be ‘woke’ but I have woken up and I do not like what I see.”
Cr Dominic Bonanno did not believe it was the appropriate time to make change.
“Australia Day is widely regarded as a time for reflection but also a time to celebrate diversity, multiculturalism and national pride among all citizens regardless of their background or beliefs,” he said.
“I understand there is some support for changing the date in our community but my view is that until we take that next step as a nation our official national day of Australia is January 26.”
Cr Bonanno also felt changing the name of the Australia Day awards might diminish the importance and standing of the awards within the community.
Speaking in support of the motion, Cr Jennifer Anderson said change was “difficult and sometimes more difficult for some, than others”.
“In the the conversations I have had around the community (about citizenship ceremonies), more and more people are saying, ‘I want a date that is not on the Australia Day date holiday’, because they feel they want to be part of Australia – an Australia that embraces all Australians.
“We don’t forget history. We don’t throw it out. History is history. We learn as we go and we learn to be inclusive.”
A division recorded those in favour of the changes were Crs Anderson, Death, Guthrie, Pearce and Ridgeway. Those against were Crs Bonanno and Neil. Crs Anne Moore and Bill West were not present at the meeting.
