GRANT District Council has reaffirmed its position to continue to host an Australia Day event despite some local government bodies across the nation dumping the iconic celebrations.
But councillors voted to reach out to the region’s indigenous community and seek their views regarding the Australia Day event.
At council’s recent meeting, elected members also voted to continue the community barbecue lunch format that is rolled out at different communities across its district each year.
The 2018 event will be held at Tarpeena, while the 2019 celebration will be held at the Mil Lel Memorial Park.
Speaking at the meeting, Cr Alan Hill said he supported 100pc that Australia Day celebrations remained on the January 26 public holiday.
He called on council to officially endorse Australia Day celebrations on the traditional date.
But Cr Julie Reis questioned whether any consultation about the yearly event had been held with the regional indigenous community.
The councillor suggested consultation should be held with the Aboriginal community given council did acknowledge they were the traditional owners of the land.
“We should consider what they feel or need – they need to be feel included, not excluded,” she said.
In response, Mayor Richard Sage said there was an opportunity to provide some information back to council and add to the Australia Day policy.
But he said he agreed with the policy for the Australia Day celebrations to continue on January 26.
Adding to debate, Cr Graham Slarks also backed the Australia Day celebrations on that date.
“It is a day that recognises our country and it is a day that has been designated,” Cr Slarks said.
He said Australia Day on January 26 – including the awards – was part of the community’s culture and heritage.
Equally, he said he was happy to celebrate NAIDOC week and other indigenous events.
The Grant District Council Australia Day celebrations have attracted an average of 500 people annually over the past four years.
Volunteers serve a barbecue lunch and an individual or group is invited to sing the national anthem before the awards are announced.
New residents have also historically taken part in a citizenship ceremony.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has criticised a number of councils dropping all references to Australia Day and cancelling annual citizenship ceremonies.
Australia Day is a national public holiday on January 26, which marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in Australia.
On that day in 1788, 11 convict ships from Great Britain landed at Port Jackson in New South Wales, where Governor Arthur Philip raised the British flag to signal the beginning of the British colony.
