THE Gannawarra Council is to be commended on their support for the traditional celebration of Australia Day on January 26.
The day began in Cohuna with an Aussie breakfast provided by the Lions Club, followed by the traditional flag-raising ceremony and the official program that acknowledged our Indigenous people as part of our history and paid tribute to our multicultural society with dignity and respect.
A ceremony that would be repeated in the towns across the shire until the day closed at Leitchville in the evening.
The Cohuna crowd, from senior citizens to kindy kids, and all in between, and their enthusiastic response to this opportunity to gather and celebrate our wonderful country was an appreciation of the council’s ongoing recognition of Australia Day and assurance that it will continue into the future as the people of Gannawarra and many others expect.
Neville Bruns was an entertaining and interesting speaker, appropriate to the local gathering and recalling memories of growing up in the area.
All credit and thanks due to the council and the many people who contributed to the success of this “one day of the year”, reflecting our pride in being Australians from our past history to this day.
Including the cheeky toots of the Woolworths truck driver as he passed by, being met with typical Aussie humour and recognition of the irony of his salute to us.
A nation without past or pride is a nation without a soul – may it never be Australia.
Julie Smith
Wee Wee Rup
