16 January 2012

Bryce Courtenay is the ACT's Australia Day Ambassador

| johnboy
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oz day live

Chief Minister Gallagher has announced the go for Australia Day in Canberra.

The lineup for Australia Day Eve has been much improved:

The Australia Day eve celebrations kick off on the Parliament House lawns with the announcement of the Australian of the Year awards followed by the popular Australia Celebrates Live concert featuring INXS, Spiderbait, Sneaky Sound System and the Potbelleez.

Then Australia Day itself has festivities around the lake.

The Chief Minister urged Canberrans to join in celebrating what makes Australia great at Australia Day in the Park, now at the new venue of Rond Terrace in Commonwealth Park. Activities include:

— The Great Aussie Day Breakfast presented by ActewAGL and Fyshwick Fresh Food.
— A children’s concert featuring the Fireman Sam Show and Kiwi G along with bushcraft, Aussie faces and tattoos, rides and children’s activities.

“Stay in the park to enjoy the Flag Raising Ceremony, the fly over and 21 Gun Salute as well as the Australian Citizenship Ceremony. As the sun sets on Australia Day 2012, make your way to Regatta Point and enjoy the Fireworks Spectacular.”

The Chief Minister was pleased to welcome author Mr Bryce Courtenay as the ACT’s Australia Day Ambassador. The program is supported by Woolworths and enables high achieving Australians to share the pride they have in being Australian with their local community.

It turns out Bryce Courtenay is a Canberran.

[Photo from Australia Day Live 2009]

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Lord love a duck, now I remember why my Gran used to say “Nobody yells loudest like those pushing their own barrow”.

Don’t want to celebrate Australia Day with Joe Public? Don’t go. I’m not, and that’s the joy of living in a country where that choice can be made.
Want to celebrate Sovereignty Day or mourn for Invasion Day? Go ahead. I won’t.
Never seen yoof getting drunk underage? Pretty sure it happened with amazing frequency back in the 80s when I was younger and had more hair.
Want to bag or support the Government while ignoring that the Opposition did something similar when in? Got to love those blinkers.

I will partake of Australia Day in what I *think* is the manner undertaken by most; a beverage will be had while I do whatever the fark I want to do within the limits of my morals and ethics.

//lays down and has a Bex//

“Australia’s got Literary Talent Season 3” – gold!

As for the Tent Embassy, only a columnist for the Age or the Sydney Morning Herald could explain how a deliberately created slum inhabited by Aborigines would somehow convince bypassers that Aborigines are desirable neighbours.

peturbed_but_pretty said :

…and for those who wish to celebrate differently, it is also the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy outside Old Parliament House. The fire that burns now is the same fire that burnt 40 years ago.

There is going to be a huge Gathering, with people traveling from all across Australia to represent their Nations and join together for this day.

Indigenous elders invite all Aboriginal people, supporters and other members of the general public, to come together at the ‘Aboriginal Tent Embassy’ site, on Thursday 26th January 2012, to celebrate “SOVEREIGNTY DAY” and be part of the Sacred Fire Ceremonial Gathering that will mark 40 years since the first protest on the site.

For more info: http://www.aboriginaltentembassy.net/

If Jimmy Little is going to be there performing I will be there to hear him. At least he is an Australian.

peturbed_but_pretty5:47 pm 17 Jan 12

…and for those who wish to celebrate differently, it is also the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy outside Old Parliament House. The fire that burns now is the same fire that burnt 40 years ago.

There is going to be a huge Gathering, with people traveling from all across Australia to represent their Nations and join together for this day.

Indigenous elders invite all Aboriginal people, supporters and other members of the general public, to come together at the ‘Aboriginal Tent Embassy’ site, on Thursday 26th January 2012, to celebrate “SOVEREIGNTY DAY” and be part of the Sacred Fire Ceremonial Gathering that will mark 40 years since the first protest on the site.

For more info: http://www.aboriginaltentembassy.net/

m_ratt said :

So is the Great Aussie Day Breakfast at Rond Terrace, or at CSCC Jamison?

Seems to be CSCC:
http://www.australiaday.org.au/events/australian-capital-territory/all-day-big-breakfast.aspx

A link for the Great Aussie Day Breakfast on the website going to a page about “All Day Big Breakfast” (which incidentally goes from 9am until noon).

The link above says 9am to 12am (not midday), so thats a 15 hour breakfast window.

Deref said :

fabforty said :

Clearly there were no washed up reality TV “stars” or sportspeople available.

+1

Who’s Bryce?

Wasn’t he the runner up on season 3 of “Australia’s Got Literary Talent”?

Who is Kiwi G? And are we claiming him as an Australian?

You have to admit the whole thing sounds peculiarly lame, I mean, ‘bushcraft, Aussie faces and tattoos’. What’s an Aussie face, anyway? Please tell me no hats with corks are involved.

Dork said :

Bet you are one of those people who complain because your dog barks, even though it was your choice to get a dog, and you are to proud of your furniture to let your dog inside for one night of the year. You and your dog don’t count as ‘most Canberrans’

My dog rarely barks and when he does it is for a good reason. I actually have him in the house every night. He has read your post (and Jethro’s rants as well) and says that more Canberran’s stay away from these type of celebrations than attend therefore we are in the “most Canberran’s” group. He added that he looks forward to pissing on your hubcaps.

dungfungus said :

GottaLoveCanberra said :

dungfungus said :

Is all this nonsense really necessary? Most Canberrans cringe at these types of “celebrations” and not more bloody fireworks!

Oh my someone stop the presses! People out there get entertainment from something you might not garner enjoyment from! Cram it you pretentious twat and let the youngins have their fun for a day.

I attended a New Year’s eve celebration at a popular Canberra venue a short time ago and witnessed “youngins having their fun for a day”. This consisted generally of getting drunk, vomiting, swearing aloud and constantly referring to their “smart” phones ot Twitter pads. It appears young people cannot interact with the rest of society these days so I stand by my statement that most Canberrans find the sort of “celebration” cringeworthy. If this means I am “pretentious” to you then I make no apologies.

Young peolple these days. They’re the first generation to go bad Ise tells ya.

Bet you are one of those people who complain because your dog barks, even though it was your choice to get a dog, and you are to proud of your furniture to let your dog inside for one night of the year. You and your dog don’t count as ‘most Canberrans’

fabforty said :

Clearly there were no washed up reality TV “stars” or sportspeople available.

+1

Who’s Bryce?

GottaLoveCanberra said :

dungfungus said :

Is all this nonsense really necessary? Most Canberrans cringe at these types of “celebrations” and not more bloody fireworks!

Oh my someone stop the presses! People out there get entertainment from something you might not garner enjoyment from! Cram it you pretentious twat and let the youngins have their fun for a day.

I attended a New Year’s eve celebration at a popular Canberra venue a short time ago and witnessed “youngins having their fun for a day”. This consisted generally of getting drunk, vomiting, swearing aloud and constantly referring to their “smart” phones ot Twitter pads. It appears young people cannot interact with the rest of society these days so I stand by my statement that most Canberrans find the sort of “celebration” cringeworthy. If this means I am “pretentious” to you then I make no apologies.

dungfungus said :

Is all this nonsense really necessary? Most Canberrans cringe at these types of “celebrations” and not more bloody fireworks!

You’re right. We should put an end to any type of celebration or festival in Canberra. No fireworks. No free concerts. Too any people cringe at the thought of people enjoying themselves. This madness must be stopped.

I note that popular author Mr Bryce Courtenay is a long time advertising man – so you can really rely on anything he says.
“The Chief Minister urged Canberrans to join in celebrating…..”
What would get me celebrating would be the fall of her GreenLabor Government later in the year – but being a realist – I doubt that will happen.

Clearly there were no washed up reality TV “stars” or sportspeople available.

GottaLoveCanberra12:18 am 17 Jan 12

dungfungus said :

Is all this nonsense really necessary? Most Canberrans cringe at these types of “celebrations” and not more bloody fireworks!

Oh my someone stop the presses! People out there get entertainment from something you might not garner enjoyment from! Cram it you pretentious twat and let the youngins have their fun for a day.

It’s a good fit with Hansard.

Turgid prose, crammed with irrelevant facts and used to line the shelves of people who don’t read literature.

I am no literary snob (crime fiction being my preference) but this is just silly. Then again, the whole notion of an ACT Australia Day Ambassador is pretty silly, so perhaps it is a good fit.

So is the Great Aussie Day Breakfast at Rond Terrace, or at CSCC Jamison?

A link for the Great Aussie Day Breakfast on the website going to a page about “All Day Big Breakfast” (which incidentally goes from 9am until noon).

Is all this nonsense really necessary? Most Canberrans cringe at these types of “celebrations” and not more bloody fireworks!

Just wondering why the move to Rond Terrace?

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