“Firstly I don’t want to see the national anthem become a point of division in our nation,” Kelly told Sunrise. The Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that the anthem was an important national symbol. Josh Addo-Carr, his Blues teammate Cody Walker and others were. After all, the new country longed for its own "Australia culture". Like Reply. A spokesman for Whitlam later stated that the Government regarded the tune primarily as the national anthem. mangiafico. It had just officially replaced 'God Save The Queen' as the anthem, but not before the Prime Minister of the time Bob Hawke requested a change to the opening line (now "Australians all let us rejoice") to be more inclusive. Source(s): https://shrinke.im/a9pew. But it’s not true. Why We Should Change the National Anthem to ‘America the Beautiful’ It's a better expression of our republican aspirations to be humble and good. Australian athlete Richard Coleman said: "That is one incredible national anthem. All times AEDT (GMT +11). 0 0. tentofield. Early results from news.com.au’s poll on which iconic Aussie song should replace the anthem showed that out of close to 4000 voters, 37 per cent think we should change our national … We have the English language, our laws came from Britain, our constitution derived from Britain but then became totally Australian. When the anthem was changed in 1984 because it made no reference to women, the then prime minister Bob Hawke used his executive powers to change "Australia's sons" to "Australians all let us rejoice". Blindly, many Australians continue to accept this. Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson says Australia should be guided by Indigenous Australians in the debate over changing a word in the national anthem. Members of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir will perform a new version of the national anthem that they're happy to sing on Sunday at the Desert Song Festival. "We surely cannot accept an anthem which Indigenous people find difficult, if not impossible to sing," writes Mr Vickery in an editorial in the Herald. "Advance Australia Fair is an anthem that is racist at so many levels, written for a white Australia that is irrelevant, or should be. In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair. We must, at least, presume that they have because they want our anthem changed. Chris Ingrey, the chief executive of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, doesn't sing it. But it’s not true. The debate over whether or not to change Australia’s national anthem has been an ongoing one – and there’s one song they want it changed to. Change the national anthem. As an athlete every time the Australian anthem is performed it should be done this way. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature’s gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history’s page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair. Members of the Central Australian Aboriginal choir, pictured last year, will sing a new version of the anthem on Sunday. Early results from news.com.au’s poll on which iconic Aussie song should replace the anthem showed that out of close to 4000 voters, 37 per cent think we should change our national song to The Seekers’ I Am Australian. We adopted our own National Anthem without it being thought of as disrespectful to our ex-servicemen who fought wars for Australia under a different national anthem. Answer Save. “People are, perhaps, looking for little rays of sunshine, things to hang on to.”. 5 years ago. Sydney COVID-19 New Year’s Eve: 1000 people could be infecte... Altona Beach: Teenage girl sexually assaulted by man on jet ... Alvin Prasad: Missing swimmer at Surfers Paradise identified. However, after the declaration of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901, many Australians felt they should have their own Australian national anthem. Change our national anthem are you joking change it to what Muslim Knights. Liberal Queensland MP Andrew Laming says the second verse needs a rewrite. Our national anthem tells us that we are young and free. If we have a national anthem that offends our Indigenous people, let’s see what all of Australia thinks. The Australian public is not attached to the national anthem because it is only 35 years old and the “song’s just not that good”, the Indigenous rapper Briggs has said. Mr Vickery's heart was "more or less in the right place" she told The Sydney Morning Herald and Age. On Breakfast with Dan Bourchier We’re ok with that too. writes Mr Vickery in an editorial in the Herald. Lv 4. He acknowledged "there are many diverse views on our national symbols and welcome conversations on how we celebrate our multicultural and shared history". Relevance. A Coalition MP believes "it is probably a good time" to revise the Australian national anthem to "represent Australia in the 21st century" and the values that "encapsulates everything we are." Australia is no longer a country that acts as part of the British Empire. For example, English footballer Raheem Sterling has been praised for tackling racism in the sport, while Australian rugby player David Pocock was a vocal supporter of same-sex marriage. Nationwide News Pty Limited Copyright © 2020. In contrast to Advance Australia Fair – which is often criticised for its lack of inclusive lyrics – the popular 1987 tune has a stronger message of unity, and multiple historic and cultural references. We can have a national debate and let the people of Australia have their say. Australian singer-songwriter Shane Howard told The Sydney Morning Heraldin 2018 that our national anthem “is an anthem that is racist on so many levels, written for a white Australia that is irrelevant, or should be”. While marketed as a day of celebration, January 26 marks the day that Australia’s First Nations people lost their country. A growing number of athletes are using their celebrity status to speak out on social issues. "As an Aboriginal person, I have never felt connected to the version I was taught growing up," he said. Report Post . National anthem: Changing one word means nothing while we continue to fail the people we’re trying to impress Andrew Bolt: Gladys Berejiklian’s push to change our national anthem is a con The basic reason why we should change the Australian Flag is that the flag no longer represents what Australia is and what Australia wants to be. Substituting “one” for “young” in the opening couplet of Advance Australia Fair is the right thing, and it’s not a big ask. It replaces the word "young" with the word "one" and adds a new verse that recognises 60,000 years of continued existence by Aboriginal Australians. Australia changed its National Anthem from God Save The Queen to Advance Australia Fair in 1984. It was to be used on all occasions excepting those of a specifically regal nature. Peter Vickery is the founder of the Recognition in Anthem Project which proposes a more inclusive national anthem. "I came from the dream-time, From the dusty red-soil plains". Everyone takes pride in its performance. “We have a very proud Indigenous culture of tens of thousands of years on this continent, so to say we are young and free ignores that. Indigenous footballers Josh Addo-Carr, his Blues teammate Cody Walker and others were criticised as unpatriotic by some when they refused to sing the anthem. But if we are ever attacked by an outside adversary, as we were on 9/11, we will need to put those differences aside and stand together because, as our founders reminded us, “United we stand, divided we fall.” When we all stand in silence at the playing of the national anthem it’s a reminder to me that we are still one nation under God. I am considering starting an online petition on whether Australia should change their national anthem to I am Australian but I'm not sure if this is the best song option and what people would think of it, also I have a few reasons on why we should change it … Kelly says he doesn’t want to see anymore boycotts because they “spread like a contagion”. During a segement on the The Weekly, he explained why the anthem was problematic. Mr Ingrey said any version that acknowledged Aboriginal peoples' long-standing connection to the land should be welcomed by all. Children attend school to learn nothing else. It was first officially proposed in 1974 to replace “God Save the Queen,” which had been the national anthem from 1788 to 1974 and which, in 1984, was designated the royal anthem, to be played at public appearances of Why one tiny change would advance our anthem. That left a choice between "Advance Australia Fair", "Waltzing Matilda" and "God Save the Queen" even our new dollar coin does not even say " In god we trust" and we don't say "on nation under god" in our pledge in schools. Likewise, changing “young” to “one” does not diminish our anthem, it enhances and improves it. Neither does his father or his 15-year-old son. A change in a single word can make a big difference. “We had a great game of football last night – that’s what we should be talking about and celebrating." It replaced God Save the Queen as our national anthem in 1984, after a plebiscite to choose a new anthem was carried out in 1977. AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil; Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in nature’s gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history’s page, let every stage Advance Australia Fair. Advance Australia Fair, national anthem of Australia, adopted on April 19, 1984. It’s time for the whinging faux patriotic grown-ups to grow up,” he said. ADVANCE Australia Fair should be ditched as the national anthem for I am Australian, Jeff Kennett says. Members of the Central Australian Aboriginal Women’s Choir will perform a new version of the national anthem that they're happy to sing on Sunday at the Desert Song Festival. We shouldnot change are national anthem. ADVANCE Australia Fair should be ditched as the national anthem for I am Australian, Jeff Kennett says. Anyway apparently none were considered good enough. Before 1984, Australia's national anthem 'Advance Australia Fair' started with the line: "Australian sons, let us rejoice." The Australian people deserve a national anthem that represents both the present and the past. We should not change it because it represents how the us won the war and are flag was still standing. Former Victorian Supreme Court judge Peter Vickery, QC, who founded the anthem project, said that this change replaces an "outmoded and hurtful word" with "one that sings of the unifying values at the core of the Australian spirit". We should change the national anthem to "This Land Is Your Land" and erect a statue of Woody Guthrie. In tomorrow's Herald Sun, I have been told Jeff Kennett will be saying that the song I am Australian should be our national anthem, or at least our national song. Besides, none of us stay young. The current anthem "Advance Australia Fair" lacks lyrics that truly represent this country. But then a national anthem should not aspire to be a catchy pop song to wave your lighter to. The debate over whether or not to change Australia’s national anthem has been an ongoing one – and there’s one hit many would like to see replace Advance Australia Fair. To join the conversation, please Log in. An anthem wraps and enfolds a nation’s character. So, yes, we should have a modified national anthem – none of the choices presented seem good, but one can take parts out of these options and maybe make a new one.” – George “Anything is better than that lullaby we have now.” – Old Geezer “Children should learn the anthem out of respect for our country. Advance Australia Fair" was chosen by 51.4% of respondents and, on 9 April of that year, Whitlam announced in parliament that it was the national anthem. Lv 7. Our national anthem tells us that we are young and free. The basic reason why we should change the Australian Flag is that the flag no longer represents what Australia is and what Australia wants to be. A new second verse recognises the "first people of this land", and a new third verse - using some lines from the existing second verse - conveys the spirit of modern Australia where we work together even when "all but hope is gone". Why don’t they write an aboriginal anthem using their own language. But she continued to sing the "inclusive and beautifully written lyrics" written by Judith Durham with Mutti Mutti man Kutcha Edwards, and encouraged others to do so too. Credit:Emma Murray. "But it’s not true. While at school she should do as she is told as generations have before her. "Advance Australia Fair" is the national anthem of Australia. So, yes, we should have a modified national anthem – none of the choices presented seem good, but one can take parts out of these options and maybe make a new one.” – George “Anything is better than that lullaby we have now.” – Old Geezer “Children should learn the anthem out of respect for our country. My point is that if we were to go to all the effort and expense and national soul-searching involved in choosing a new national anthem it's pretty much guaranteed that the majority of people won't like it, and we'll end up in exactly the same situation we're in now. Mr Vickery said the anthem can be made more inclusive without an expensive referendum or plebiscite. The anthem was first performed in 1878, but has had the lyrics revised three times to adjust to significant social and political change. Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson says Australia should be guided by Indigenous Australians in the debate over changing a word in the national anthem. 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