Australia has many assets, but the greatest of these are our people.
As we fast
approach the centenary of Australia's Federation and the new millennium, 1998
is a year for us to reflect on who we are, who we want to become and where we
intend to go as a Nation.
Afterall, how we view ourselves is crucial to how the
world views us.
We Australians are a free, tolerant and diverse people, but sadly we lack an overall Australian National identity.
In the past,
we have identified strongly with our place of origin.
I'm often asked about my cultural background. My
family came to Australia from Ireland in 1840. I am a fifth generation
Australian and yet some still consider me Irish!
How can we form a pure and unique national identity if we don't consider ourselves Australian ?
Next week we
commemorate 210 years since the first British citizens settled onto Australian
soil.
I would like to think that 1998 is the equivalent of a
21st birthday for Australia. Like all 21 year olds, I would expect our
Nation to be independent, self-assured and self-sufficient.
I look forward to the Constitutional Convention next month. 152 delegates from all over the country, from diverse backgrounds and of all ages will debate whether Australia should become a republic and if so, when.
I have long held the view that in order for Australia to be seen as independent and self-sufficient by other Nations and to enable us to promote our own unique values and our diversity, Australia should become a Republic. It is a small constitional step but a giant leap to enshine our Nation's right to self determination. I hope that future generations of Australians will take great pride in our achievements as a Nation and in our individuality in the world.
Australians generally are a happy, jocular lot, we don't take ourselves very seriously and traditionally intimacy and pride have not been our strongest characteristics.
Perhaps this is why we hesitate to exhibit pride in our nation and in ourselves.
I envy the
way that Americans are outwardly united and don't hesitate to say they love
their country. They sing their national anthem with great gusto and enthusiasm
- and they know every word.
So are Americans born or are they made? I believe
they are made.
In the US they commemorate the great achievements of their society. They sing the national anthem every day at school, standing to attention with hand over heart.
In Australia we commemorate Anzac Day. On the 25th April 1915, 7,500 young Australian men died on a beach in a foreign land fighting for a foreign power. Anzac Day has grown to become a National Day - hundreds of thousands of Australians of all ages remember the sacrifice made by so many Australian men and women who fought for the freedom, stability and security of Australia and other Nations, gained through the democratic system.
Our National Anthem fills me with pride - "Australians let us rejoice for we are young and free" epitomises what our service personnel in World War One and Two, Malaya, Vietnam and Korea fought for. I have noted at civic functions that most Australians don't know the words to Advance Australia Fair - 21 years after the song was voted as our preferred national anthem by the majority of Australians in the majority of States.
Most Aussies
don't know whether to stand or sit when the Anthem is played and look self-conscious
and uncomfortable while mumbling the words.
And I get really annoyed when the anthem is played before
the world televised AFL grand final while the players slouch and spit and stretch.
Our national song deserves greater respect.
I hope that
you, like me, will take the opportunity to reflect on our future challenges
this Australia Day.
I hope you can be proud of who you are and
where you've come from.
But most of all be proud to be Australian.