Indigo Shire’s Australia Day events and awards functions will remain unchanged for 2024 following a comprehensive review.
Earlier this year, Council appointed a 14-person community working group to lead the review, which included widespread community consultation, focusing on the format of Australia Day celebrations and Council’s awards process.
More than 750 people responded to a survey, with 90% indicating support for Council to publicly recognise community contributions through community awards, and 66% of respondents were supportive of these awards being presented on Australia Day.
There was also strong support for Council to continue to provide financial and in-kind support to community organising committees to conduct Australia Day functions and awards.
As a result, the working group recommended the 2024 events and activities remain unchanged, and that guidance to improve community awareness regarding sensitivities of the day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait island communities is provided to event organising committees.
The working group also recommended that Council continues discussions with Traditional Owner groups across the Shire to incorporate their views on Council activities including Australia Day functions.
Deputy Mayor, Bernard Gaffney says while some of the open feedback raised the issue of moving the date of Australia Day, this was not part of the brief or within Council’s remit.
Cr Gaffney says the working party did an exceptional job in reaching consensus, despite at times having differing views. He applauded the sensitive and respectful way that the group agreed on the recommendations which fairly represent both the survey data findings and the commentary analysis.
Nominations for the 2024 awards, which include the Indigo Shire Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year open tomorrow, Wednesday 27 September, 2023.
