After looking at stacks of hay - see previous post - I turned to the main task of the day, celebrating Australia day by attending the Armidale Regional Council's awards and citizenship ceremony at the town hall. Unlike previous years, the event was poorly attended, which surprised me to some extent. But thinking about it, I found a couple of reasons. This Sunday, the last in month, provided an alternative and simultaneous attraction, namely Markets in the Mall. Also, of course, this is summer holiday season in Australia and the town has been very quiet for the last 3 weeks as many residents are on the road, especially to the coast.
While awaiting for the ceremony to commence at 11 am, we were entertained by a brass band, pictured here in a corner of the town hall just in front of the stage. Many of the performers looked young and they played a lot of traditional Australian songs like 'Waltzing Matilda'.
Then the leaders of the ceremony took to the stage on cue. They included the mayor, Simon Murray, in traditional robes on the right standing next the Council's General Manager, Susan Law.
Together, they summoned the very young choir, now seen standing on stage, to sing the national anthem: Advance Australia Fair. Interestingly, the sang both verses rather than usual one that everyone knows. We all sang the first, but most of the audience, including me, didn't know the second verse and kept quiet!
At this point, a guy came on stage and recited (a) some traditional versus and (b) some, I gathered he had penned himself and focused on local community events.
Then came the ceremony where the mayor bestowed Australian citizenship on numerous people from all over the world: Asia, Europe, the Americas, etc.
Then a local master of ceremonies took over to handle various community awards, Citizens for this that and the other contribution to life in the Armidale Regional Council
The young girl below won the youth award.
Right at the end of the event, a group of 'firies' were invited. These are the people who have played a lead role in fighting the numerous bush-fires in our extensive region. None was close to damaging Armidale, but they had to be controlled to prevent environmental disasters and the smoke haze we endured. They were given a tremendous round of applause.
Thereafter people retreated from the auditorium with me in the lead!. I had to get back to Dot who hadn't been feeling the best today! I'd attended the ceremony alone.
AS
While awaiting for the ceremony to commence at 11 am, we were entertained by a brass band, pictured here in a corner of the town hall just in front of the stage. Many of the performers looked young and they played a lot of traditional Australian songs like 'Waltzing Matilda'.
Then the leaders of the ceremony took to the stage on cue. They included the mayor, Simon Murray, in traditional robes on the right standing next the Council's General Manager, Susan Law.
Together, they summoned the very young choir, now seen standing on stage, to sing the national anthem: Advance Australia Fair. Interestingly, the sang both verses rather than usual one that everyone knows. We all sang the first, but most of the audience, including me, didn't know the second verse and kept quiet!
At this point, a guy came on stage and recited (a) some traditional versus and (b) some, I gathered he had penned himself and focused on local community events.
Then came the ceremony where the mayor bestowed Australian citizenship on numerous people from all over the world: Asia, Europe, the Americas, etc.
Then a local master of ceremonies took over to handle various community awards, Citizens for this that and the other contribution to life in the Armidale Regional Council
The young girl below won the youth award.
Right at the end of the event, a group of 'firies' were invited. These are the people who have played a lead role in fighting the numerous bush-fires in our extensive region. None was close to damaging Armidale, but they had to be controlled to prevent environmental disasters and the smoke haze we endured. They were given a tremendous round of applause.
Thereafter people retreated from the auditorium with me in the lead!. I had to get back to Dot who hadn't been feeling the best today! I'd attended the ceremony alone.
AS
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