On behalf of the City of Casey and our Panel of Administrators, I would like to wish you all a happy Australia Day.
I am thankful that we can enjoy the 2022 Australia Day celebrations with family and friends, in line with COVID-safe restrictions, as we come together to celebrate our nation, our people and what it means to be Australian.
On Australia Day, we reflect on our nation’s history, which began tens of thousands of years ago with the First Australians – the world’s oldest living culture – and on the impact that European settlement had on our First Australians and their way of life.
I would like to acknowledge that Australia day is not celebrated in the same way across our community, or in some cases, at all. Australia Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the resilience and survival of Aboriginal culture and its people.
Australia Day is also a time to reflect on our modern history and the waves of immigration that have shaped us into one of the world’s great multicultural success stories.
We respect that, regardless of where we come from, the faith we follow or the language we grew up speaking, we are all Australian and we all have a contribution to make.
I would like to thank everyone in the community, especially those whose special efforts deserve our community’s recognition and thanks. We celebrate and congratulate our 2022 Casey Citizens of the Year, along with all the nominees for these important awards.
Thank you for the contribution you all make to our community. You give us all pause for thought as to what it means to be Australian, and we commend you on the investment of passion and talent that you have selflessly given, not only to the Casey community, but also to the people of our great nation.
I hope that you all enjoy Australia Day in whatever way you choose to celebrate it, and that 2022 brings you, your family and friends, our community and our nation safety, security, fellowship and goodwill.
Thank you.
