Elsie Lange
There was a hushed buzz of excitement at the Kyneton Town Hall as the families of excited award recipients and soon-to-be citizens shuffled inside on Thursday, January 26, for Macedon Ranges council’s Australia Day ceremony on Taungurung Country.
A chorus of brass played by the Kyneton Municipal Band – described by Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas as “undoubtedly Australia’s greatest municipal band” – greeted crowds with renditions of Waltzing Matilda and Advance Australia Fair.
Uninhibited by the COVID-19 capacity restrictions of the last few years, the noticeably full audience applauded and laughed and clapped in a genuine celebration of community.
Macedon Ranges mayor Annette Death and chief executive Bernie O’Sullivan spoke to attendees before 29 residents took their Australian Citizenship Pledge, acknowledging the Taungurung, Dja Dja Wurrung and Wurundjeri Countries on which the municipality sits.
“Becoming an Australian citizen does not mean forgetting your country of birth, or the country where you grew up, or its customs and its cultures, ” Cr Death said.
“What it means is a commitment to Australia as your home.
“Where you can bring your own background and story to enrich the diversity of knowledge and experience to share with those who are here, or who have become citizens here.”
From countries as close and far as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Taiwan, Germany, Zambia, Ireland, Iraq, South Africa, Italy, Scotland and Iran, names were read aloud to collect citizenship certificates, a flag lapel pin and an Australian native plant.
In her speech, Ms Thomas acknowledged January 26 as a day of “strong mixed emotions”, and one of loss and mourning for Aboriginal peoples – raising the upcoming First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum as a chance to use their democratic right to vote.
“I’d like to ask you, during the months ahead, to open your hearts and seek to understand why this is so important to First Nations people… we only have more to gain from truly connecting with the traditional owners and custodians of our land,” she said.
Following the citizenship ceremony, council’s annual Australia Day Awards were handed to local groups and residents for their contributions to the community.
Gisborne wildlife volunteer Szumai (Sue) Anderson was named Citizen of the Year, for dedicating more than 20 years working tirelessly to assist injured wildlife and support various wildlife and charity communities.
Though she was not able to attend the ceremony, fellow volunteer Debbie Gwyther-Jones accepted the award on her behalf.
“She would like to accept this award on behalf of all rescuers… Sue has been rescuing for almost 23 years and has attended in excess of 10,000 rescues,” Ms Gwyther-Jones said.
“This year alone, she’s documented 837. She is often asked why she rescues and is often told she should so down, not do so much, but people don’t see how much we do, and how important this work is.
“It’s dirty, smelly, bloody, sad, dangerous, challenging and sometimes rewarding work.”
The Romsey Ecotherapy Park Committee received the Connecting Communities Award, for being instrumental in bringing people together during the planning and development of the newly-opened park.
For 14 years, the committee helped raise funds and worked tirelessly to bring the park to fruition.
This year there were joint winners of the Healthy People and Environment Award: the Woodend Masters Football Club (WMFC) and the Friends of Daly Nature Reserve (FDNR).
WMFC president Alan Mitchell-Lappin, a Barkandji man, said to receive an award for helping people was “pretty special”.
“My intent, the committee’s intent, is to make people feel welcome… it doesn’t matter when you’re sporty, or not sporty, there’s always a role for everyone, there’s always a place for everyone,” he said.
Woodend’s Matthew Barry, the key organiser of the Woodend Community Farmers’ Market and action group leader with the Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, was awarded the Business and Tourism Award.
“I put a lot of effort into it, I feel honoured to be recognised, but I feel well supported. I’m driving, but I’m driving a fantastic community vessel,” he said.
