With the biggest crowd in years attending Tatura’s Australia Day celebrations this year, organisers have vowed to continue to hold the town’s celebrations on January 26 again next year despite a trend against events on Australia Day.
Tatura was one of only two towns in the City of Greater Shepparton local government area to hold its Australia Day ceremony on Australia Day itself this year after council announced it would not fund any celebrations held on January 26.
Except Murchison, all the other towns elected to hold their ceremonies either on Thursday night or at the weekend.
Speaking at the event, Tatura and District Australia Day committee president Rod Schubert spoke out against the move to change the day’s celebrations, and the decision by local councils to become involved in moving it, or big corporations such as Woolworths and Aldi.
“In my opinion we should unashamedly celebrate Australia Day,” he said.
“It is up to all Australians whether they choose to celebrate Australia Day or not.
“We should celebrate our history, our diversity and what we have in this country and the future.
“We are the greatest country in the world and we have every right to celebrate.”
Mr Schubert thanked everyone in the crowd for coming to the event.
“If nothing else, your attendance has confirmed our ongoing commitment to Tatura maintaining the celebration of Australia Day on the 26th of January,” he said.
The numbers at this year’s Tatura ceremony swelled, with just over 300 people attending – almost double the numbers of last year’s Tatura event.
Many of those in the crowd spoke of going to the Tatura event because they wanted to do something on Australia Day itself to celebrate.
And many appeared to support Mr Schubert’s stance with cheers as he announced the date would not change at Tatura next year.
Mr Schubert said this year’s Tatura event went ahead with money the committee had in reserve from other years, however, warned that with City of Greater Shepparton Council not funding events on the day again next year, the money would need to come from somewhere else.
He called on anyone with any fundraising ideas to contact committee members.
“This is a day of getting together and a day of celebration. What a tremendous day,” he said.
“I think the council got this so wrong (in changing the date).
“They should be focusing on roads, rates and rubbish.
“This is a day of getting together and a day of celebration. What a tremendous day.”