It may not have been a sunny day in Maitland but the Aussie spirit shone through for the city’s Australia Day celebrations.
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New citizens were welcomed, exceptional community members were honoured and the city’s leaders spoke about what it meant to them to be Australian during the annual event at Maitland Park yesterday.
Despite the dark sky and drizzling rain, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the national day with their friends and family at the event, hosted by Maitland City Council.
The city’s Australia Day ambassador, novelist Barry Maitland, spoke about his move to the Hunter from the UK in 1984.
He became an Australian citizen in 1986.
“My perspective is that of a new Australian,” Mr Maitland said.
“I knew that Australia was an extraordinary place with an amazing, unique history, a vast continent which for over 60,000 years nurtured a civilisation of Aboriginal people who had adapted to its deserts, forests and coasts.
“I also knew that Australia was a very dangerous place, home to sharks, crocodiles and poisonous spiders.”
Mr Maitland and his wife moved to Maitland in 1989 after their home in Newcastle collapsed during the major earthquake that rocked the city.
He paid tribute to Australia’s emergency service people and said they typified the character of the nation.
“These days I write detective novels and while I’m doing research for them I have had the good privilege of talking to a number of people who figure so prominently whenever disaster strikes,” Mr Maitland said.
“I’m always struck by their courage, their calm professionalism, their sense of dedication and their ability to muck in and deal with whatever is thrown at them, no matter how terrible.
“I think they represent the very best qualities of the Australian character, forged by the challenges that this continent has presented.”
The Mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore urged people to take the chance to reflect on what made Australia such a great place.
“We have so much to be thankful for,” he said.
Board member of The Mutual Maitland, the major sponsor of the event, Alan Wells said the day had been a tremendous one for the Maitland community, despite the threat of bad weather.
“It’s great to be a part of the Australia Day festivities,” he said.
