The importance of being inclusive was the message all guest speakers spoke about at Merimbula Rotary Club’s “ Big Aussie Breakfast “ Australia Day event held this morning.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A crowd of over 100 people gathered in the Rotary Park to reflect upon and celebrate the values that make Australia a unique and truly diverse nation.
As is the Merimbula tradition the local scouts raised the flag up an ‘old gum tree’ as the audience sang along to Advance Australia Fair played by the Sapphire Coast Concert band.
Merimbula’s Australia Day Ambassador Christopher Nicholls from Merimbula Tourism addressed the flag waving crowd as a “thinking patriot” who holds aspirations for Australia to become a more compassionate and inclusive nation.
“We care about place, we care about what’s important in being an Aussie. We must aspire to our greatest potential – as Guboo [South Coast Indigenous Elder Ted Thomas] put it: a truly unified Australian identitywith a respect for Aboriginal culture and love of the land as its bedrock, ” Mr Nicholls said.
The Community Service Award was presented to the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast. Mick Brosnan accepted the award on behalf of the highly regarded community advocate group.
It was an award double whammy for the advocates. Mr Brosnan also received an Order of Australia Medal for his ongoing work with the vulnerable community.
In a truly humbling and heart felt speech Mr Brosnan spoke of the inspiring work volunteers in the Bega Valley do for the wider community and beyond.
“We need to share the dreaming and not hide our wonderful community and environment , we need to be a more inclusive community.”
