Mayor’s Column: Longreach Leader 29-1-2021

Australia really is the lucky country. 

If you ever needed proof that Australia is the lucky country, you need only look at the worldwide events of the past twelve months to see just how fortunate we all are.

I say fortunate because it’s not all down to luck that we have it as good as we do.

As a people, we’ve worked hard for our good fortune in the last year – echoing the efforts of generations past that have seen our nation endure, and made our home the place that we enjoy today.

On Australia Day we took the opportunity to reflect on those efforts, respect the contributions of our people, and celebrate what we have achieved together.

Our Australia Day Awards are the ideal chance to recognise those in our community that have contributed to our collective good fortune. The nominations received are evidence of an extraordinary year in our communities. Each year there are more acts of service than can ever be acknowledged, and this year it was particularly fitting to reflect on our volunteers and frontline workers who put the safety and wellbeing of others before their own.

I’d like to congratulate all the recipients and nominees in our Australia Day awards this year. I would like to also especially thank those who took the time to nominate someone for recognition. For me, presenting the awards is a great honour.

I also had the rare privilege of being the first to welcome our newest Australians, by conferring citizenship upon them. In so doing, their unique cultural identities were not lost to them – they were gained to us. They now enrich our shared heritage and become part of the fabric of our nationhood. We are lucky that they have chosen to join us and make their own valuable contribution to the success of our community.

The past year has brought home the immeasurable value of people and communities worldwide. Our people and communities are the great success of Australia. They define our nation’s place in the world – a proud, ancient, multicultural nation built on shared values that allow us to enjoy what other nations aspire to.

Australia really is the lucky country, but we don’t rely on luck alone.  

So allow me to thank you for what you contribute – and for working so hard for our good fortune.