Cairns Regional Council strips ‘Australia Day’ from event titles, moves citizen awards ceremony
Cairns Regional Council has shocked its own councillors by stripping the words “Australia Day” from January 26 events but others have welcomed the move. What do you think? VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Cairns Regional Council has shocked its own councillors by stripping the words “Australia Day” from January 26 events as well as moving a traditional ceremony to a later date.
The council has removed the title “Australia Day” from its Citizen of the Year award ceremony, and moved the event to February 1.
In 2022 and 2023, the event was titled “Australia Day Awards”.
Majella Fallon, who was awarded citizen of the year in 2023, said she disagreed with council’s decision.
“It would be mindful to be transparent so people can understand why council changed the (award ceremony) date. No explanation being put forward is questionable,” Ms Fallon said.
“January 26 is still heralded as Australia Day. So until that changes, why should celebrations change?”
Stratford’s Peter McNally, who was recognised in 2019 for fundraising contributions to the FNQ Hospital Foundation, also disagreed with the council’s move, and said receiving the award on Australia Day made the occasion feel more special.
“Personally, I felt very proud to be Australian. I think everybody should be proud of being Australian,” Mr McNally said.
Brinsmead’s Daniel Rosendale, who was awarded young citizen of the year in 2020, said he agreed with the move.
“I believe it’s a progressive move that includes people from all walks of life,” Mr Rosendale said.
“It links success in our community not to a day, but to the individual’s achievements.
“For some, celebrating and accepting awards on such a contentious dates can be met with mixed emotions.”
Division 3 councillor Cathy Zeiger said councillors were blindsided by the decision.
“I think it’s poor form. But councillors being the last to find out things seems to have been the case quite often recently,” Ms Zeiger said.
Division 7 councillor Max O’Halloran said councillors did not participate in the decision.
“It’s sad to see it’s come to this. We seem to be losing this tradition everywhere – it’s being thrown out the window,” Mr O’Halloran said.
The council is now referring to its suite of January 26 activities, hosted at public pools throughout the LGA, as “Family Fun Day” or “the Public Holiday”.
The website was updated with one reference to Australia Day following an enquiry from the Cairns Post.
Council’s CEO Mica Martin said the wording “Australia Day” was still being used in “some” promotional material, with a consistent focus on free family fun.
“Promotional materials being used to advertise the three free family fun events reflect the approach used last year, and which contributed to successful events,” Ms Martin said.
“The promotion of Australia Day events and the format of the Citizen of the Year Awards was done in close consultation with mayor Bob Manning last year. The approach was very successful.”
Ms Martin said a citizenship ceremony would still be held at council’s civic room on Australia Day, with more than 70 people expected to attend.
“The decision to hold the Citizen of the Year awards on February 1 is to ensure the focus of the awards is on the recipients – their merits, achievements and actions as exemplary citizens of Cairns,” she said.
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