Home Australia Sydney council sparks outrage as it prepares to hold a ‘dawn service’ for Australia Day: ‘It can be considered a day of mourning’

Sydney council sparks outrage as it prepares to hold a ‘dawn service’ for Australia Day: ‘It can be considered a day of mourning’

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Michael von Berg

A local council in Sydney is once again holding a ‘sunrise reflection’ on Australia Day to honor First Nations people, despite backlash over the event last year.

Waverley Council, which incorporates the wealthy eastern suburbs of Bondi, Bronte, Rose Bay, Tamarama and Dover Heights, said it will feature ‘cultural expression from local knowledge holders and artists’ at Sunrise on January 26.

Military Cross recipient Michael Von Berg told Daily Mail Australia that the notion of a dawn service was deeply linked to Anzac Day and was an “ambush” by the Council “sticking it to veterans and all who have fallen protecting this country.

Waverley Council said the event was to “recognise the resilience and survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their continued connection to country and culture as the traditional custodians of this land”.

The event will be followed by a breakfast barbecue at the Bondi Surf Bathers lifesaving club with gold coin donations going to indigenous education charity the GO Foundation.

Von Berg said he had no problem with the concept, but keeping it as a sunrise event on Australia Day was a clear stunt aimed at politicizing both Australia Day and Anzac Day.

“Our indigenous brothers have fought in every conflict since the Boer War,” Von Berg said.

‘I have served with many who have never let me down, one I lost in Vietnam that I will never forget. The defense force is completely colorblind.

Mr. Von Berg during his military service

War hero Michael von Berg said an Australia Day ‘Dawn Reflection’ event for First Nations people by a Sydney council was a stunt that ‘ambushed’ both Australia Day and Anzac Day

Waverley Council is again sticking with its decision this year to hold the Dawn event on Bondi Beach on Australia Day, similar to the one held on Anzac Day each year (pictured)

Waverley Council is again sticking with its decision this year to hold the Dawn event on Bondi Beach on Australia Day, similar to the one held on Anzac Day each year (pictured)

Waverley Council celebrated the event last year when Mayor Paula Masselos said Australians who voted not to enshrine an Indigenous voice in Parliament in the Constitution in October 2023 had partially caused the decision.

‘As a council that is committed to social justice, we understand that January 26 may be a difficult day for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and that many in our community are still coming to terms with the outcome of the voice referendum to Parliament, Mayor Masselos said.

‘Waverley voters were overwhelmingly in favor of a voice to Parliament that would have given Australians the opportunity to walk together to recognise, empower and listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“It can be seen as a day of mourning, but also a day to recognize the continued resilience and survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditions and cultures.”

In the referendum, 60 per cent of Australians voted against altering the constitution to include the race-based advisory body.

Mr. Von Berg urged the Council to reconsider the event and “hold it to another date.”

Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the first fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British Colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, went to the Union Jack in Sydney Cove.

But for many First Nations people, it is considered ‘Invasion Day’ or ‘Lorador Day’ because it marks the beginning of the colonization of Australia.

Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos pictured with First Minister Anthony Albanese

Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos pictured with First Minister Anthony Albanese

Mr Von Berg said for veterans the Australian flag symbolized more than politics.

‘The Australian flag will be flown high and proud because this flag means more to us than just a cloth.

‘When a soldier dies, that flag is draped over the coffin, which are the arms of the nation that embrace that soldier and thank him for his service. The flag that flies at half-mast are the tears of the nation mourning that soldier. It means even more.

A poll by conservative think tank The Institute of Public Affairs released this week found that 69 per cent of respondents agreed with keeping the Australia Day date of January 26.

“That’s a clear message from two-thirds of the population,” Von Berg said.

“This Woke Council is doing its thing.”

A separate survey, the Deakin Contemporary History Survey in 2021, 2023 and 2024 included the statement: “We should not celebrate Australia Day on January 26” and asking the reader to agree or disagree.

That survey of more than 2,000 respondents found that responses from those years traced back fairly consistently rather than any kind of ‘cultural shift,’ with about 58 percent of respondents disagreeing and wanting to keep the date, while 41 percent percent wanted to change the date.

In late 2022, the federal government scrapped a previous rule that had forced councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

At the time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted there was ‘no change here’ as nothing was forced, but following that change more than 80 councils withdrew citizenship ceremonies on January 26 last year.

RMR von Berg said dawn services were 'sacred' and Waverley council was 'sticking it' to veterans with its Australia Day Dawn event (pictured is an ANZAC Day dawn service in Bondi)

RMR von Berg said dawn services were ‘sacred’ and Waverley council was ‘sticking it’ to veterans with its Australia Day Dawn event (pictured is an ANZAC Day dawn service in Bondi)

In an audit of the country’s councils, Daily Mail Australia revealed last week that a staggering 154 councils across the country were not holding citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day.

The number is likely to be higher as just over a third of Australia’s 537 local councils refused to reveal their position when asked by this newspaper.

However, citizenship ceremonies have received strong support from councils in migrant western Sydney, with mayors pushing to restore Australia Day celebrations.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Waverley Council for comment.

(Tagstotranslate) DailyMail (T) News (T) Sydney

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