Australia Day is upon us. The name Australia is derived from the Latin, australis, meaning southern.
Almost one in four Australians were born overseas.
More than 120 languages (I presume this doesn’t include indigenous languages!) are spoken in Victoria.
Between 2001 and 2006, the top countries for increased migration to Australia were China, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the Philippines.
But January 26th is not just a day of celebration for Australians. The date is also India’s Republic Day with 2010 marking the 60th anniversary of that country’s constitution.
To celebrate Victoria’s close ties with India, Australia Day at the Bowl – Jai Ho will be a riot of colour and movement from classical Indian music and traditional folk dances through to the razzle-dazzle of Bollywood.
For the 20 somethings there’s the Big Day Out at Flemington racecourse.
As an antidote to the possible overdose of “nationalism” from events listed above, there’s the Share the Spirit festival to collaborate Aboriginal culture and survival with a free concert on Tuesday at Treasury Gardens, 2-8pm.
Australia Day could be an appropriate day for the killer or killers of Nitin Garg to repent and hand themselves (self) to the police. That would be a redemptive act of solidarity and a ritual expression of “commonwealth” like no other.
I’ve been an Australia Day ambassador for a few years now. Got the “gig” long before HQ decided church officials shouldn’t be involved in what they diagnosed as purely secular activities, like walking with the “undeserving” poor.
The State of Victoria invited me, along with 100’s of other citizens, to be, what the officials called, Australia day ambassadors. A suasive factor may, also, have been, the fact that I was made a Member of the Order of Australia, in the 80’s, for services to homeless youths.
I didn’t seek then, nor do I seek now, honours from State or Commonwealth for doing what I considered to be my gospel and civil duty. (I would, indeed, claim gospel and secular values are closer, in Australia, than we think!).
I’m off to Preston on Tuesday as ambassador, say a few words, participate in citizenship ceremonies and community awards.
I’ll get back home to the parish for a humble but divine experience of the sacred at noon Mass – just a few of us, as usual, since my arrival in 1973 and, maybe an aussie flag.
Henri Ser will be out and about with food, $’s and, more importantly, comfort and respect for our neighbourhood socially challenged fellow citizens. Henri deserves an Order of Australia.
Our parish will again confuse (in the hope, even yet, of convincing) by respecting/comforting and feeding 40 local rooming house people.
“And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the Parish house – who’ll come a waltzing matilda with me?”.
RJM
Australia Day is upon us. The name Australia is derived from the Latin, australis, meaning southern.
Almost one in four Australians were born overseas.
More than 120 languages (I presume this doesn’t include indigenous languages!) are spoken in Victoria.
Between 2001 and 2006, the top countries for increased migration to Australia were China, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the Philippines.
But January 26th is not just a day of celebration for Australians. The date is also India’s Republic Day with 2010 marking the 60th anniversary of that country’s constitution.
To celebrate Victoria’s close ties with India, Australia Day at the Bowl – Jai Ho will be a riot of colour and movement from classical Indian music and traditional folk dances through to the razzle-dazzle of Bollywood.
For the 20 somethings there’s the Big Day Out at Flemington racecourse.
As an antidote to the possible overdose of “nationalism” from events listed above, there’s the Share the Spirit festival to collaborate Aboriginal culture and survival with a free concert on Tuesday at Treasury Gardens, 2-8pm.
Australia Day could be an appropriate day for the killer or killers of Nitin Garg to repent and hand themselves (self) to the police. That would be a redemptive act of solidarity and a ritual expression of “commonwealth” like no other.
I’ve been an Australia Day ambassador for a few years now. Got the “gig” long before HQ decided church officials shouldn’t be involved in what they diagnosed as purely secular activities, like walking with the “undeserving” poor.
The State of Victoria invited me, along with 100’s of other citizens, to be, what the officials called, Australia day ambassadors. A suasive factor may, also, have been, the fact that I was made a Member of the Order of Australia, in the 80’s, for services to homeless youths.
I didn’t seek then, nor do I seek now, honours from State or Commonwealth for doing what I considered to be my gospel and civil duty. (I would, indeed, claim gospel and secular values are closer, in Australia, than we think!).
I’m off to Preston on Tuesday as ambassador, say a few words, participate in citizenship ceremonies and community awards.
I’ll get back home to the parish for a humble but divine experience of the sacred at noon Mass – just a few of us, as usual, since my arrival in 1973 and, maybe an aussie flag.
Henri Ser will be out and about with food, $’s and, more importantly, comfort and respect for our neighbourhood socially challenged fellow citizens. Henri deserves an Order of Australia.
Our parish will again confuse (in the hope, even yet, of convincing) by respecting/comforting and feeding 40 local rooming house people.
“And his ghost may be heard as you pass by the Parish house – who’ll come a waltzing matilda with me?”.
RJM
Hi Father Bob, I have just seen you on the 7:30 project on chanel 10 – i am so impressed with you and the work that you do the catholic church needs to have a good hard look at what you are doing and how you are doing it – I am catholic and i don’t beleive the church has kept pace with today and the needs of the young …and infact people in general the mass/church needs to be a place were people would like to go and participate keep up the great work and may god bless you
It is Un-Australian not to cash grab, just take a look at how many layers of tax you pay on things like petrol. Just today it was published we pay the most globally for SMS’s also. I guess these guys are no worse than the Government or big business.
Hi Father Bob, my name is Judith Dix (Maiden name is Marrow), my brother in law is Peter Campisano and he teaches at your Catholic School in South Melbourne. I also would like to let you know that I am ex employee at Radio 3AW from many years ago and I am still in contact with a lot of people who still work there such as David Mann. My boss from years ago at Radio 3AW was David McGee when the Radio Station was situated in LaTrobe Street, Melbourne. I caught up with David Mann and many others when I visited Melbourne in September last year in which I stayed with Peter Campisano and his wife (my sister Carole). I have been living in Darwin, Northern Territory for the past seven years and I really love it there. I love your work and I always have. God Bless from Judith Dix (Marrow)