Jude welcomes new citizens

Jude welcomes new citizens on Australia Day

Lane Cove’s Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony was hosted by the Mayor, Clr Deborah Hutchens. AFL legend and Lane Cove local Jude Bolton was the official Australia Day Ambassador and spoke about what it means to be an Australian.

Hundreds of locals attended the Citizenship Ceremony in Lane Cove Plaza on Australia Day, helping welcome 95 people who were conferred as new citizens. Jude Bolton was invited by Council as its official Australia Day Ambassador. Jude lives in Lane Cove with his wife Lynette and two young daughters. He represented the Sydney Swans for 15 years and now works in commentary with Channel 7 and Triple M. Jude spoke about what makes Australia, and in particular Lane Cove, such a special place to live. The following is an excerpt from his speech.

Lane Cove is where I spend so much time with my close knit family and I see here, in this community, so many of the things that I love about Australia.

I see young families and older members of the area, coming together, shopping and eating in the wonderful cafes and restaurants in this amazing social hub.

I see our little ones playing in the Plaza, tearing around the grass, chasing the birds. They think nothing of striking up a conversation or just joining in with others. Whether that be a game of chasey, doing cartwheels or kicking a ball around with other children of any age, of any background, of any religion.

It is inclusive, it is non-judgemental, and it’s instantaneous. It's community. And it represents to me exactly what Australia Day should be about.

It is this inclusiveness and the acceptance of our way of life and finding common ground with people from diverse backgrounds, that makes Australia – and this suburb in particular – so special. That’s what I love so much about Lane Cove.

For everyone here, particularly our newest Australian citizens, I would love to give you a snapshot of my background - the Australia I grew up in.

My folks were both working class people – primary school teachers in country Victoria in a little place called Ballarat.

My parents are very down to earth and I was taught from a young age about values and behaviours and about the important of having respect for others.

My Dad took up a Principal role when we moved to Melbourne when I was 12. He taught for a number of years at Brunswick Nth Primary School. As a ‘Language Other Than English’ school, it welcomed students from all over the world. Visiting my Dad on days off or after school gave me an insight into how diverse and wonderful this country is. I had never before had the privilege of seeing so many incredible people from so many different cultures together. And it showed me just how important it is to value and appreciate everyone for who they are and not judge them on where they are from.

Fast forward a few years to my time with the Swans - my second family. I was lucky enough to count incredible Australians like Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin as my brothers.

My time at the footy club taught me so many things about what it means to be an Australian. I learnt to enjoy this crazy ride called life and all it has to offer, to embrace those inevitable ups and downs, to accept the support of my friends and family and to tackle any challenge head on.

But perhaps the two key messages that I took from my time in the AFL that are most poignant on Australia Day are these:

• Firstly, to think about others – first and foremost.

• And secondly, that we are all just

passing through – and that we should aim to leave it a better place than when we arrived.

There have been a number of things recently that have bubbled away on a global scale that highlights conflict and divisiveness between people. But we must look to our own country, to our communities on this Australia Day, to the places where we bring our kids up, and to the ideals that we live by – to put others first and to always be driving better standards for those around us and for those that may be not as well off.

There should always be a focus around acceptance. Not divisiveness. It should be centred around love – around care and respect – of those around you.

On this Australia Day we welcome all of you – our newest Australians. Please enrich us with your background. Aim to leave this country a better place than when you arrived.

I certainly will be doing everything in my power to do just that and to be the best role model for my two young girls – each and every day.

Connected or disconnected?

Rapid advancements in technology and new generations of tech savvy kids are now the norm. By Liz Foster

The old family joke that no-one over 25 can work the VHS now seems foolishly outdated. Rather, no-one over 25 can work the Wi-Fi or change the TV setting from Foxtel to iView.

There’s always a temptation to reminisce about Days Of Yore but the reality is that by tomorrow, Today will be confined to Yore. Those of us in the workplace at the advent of the Internet can remember how Avant Garde it all was. Imagine - you can enter your details into this page and then get on a plane without having spoken to anyone. How cutting edge!

Now it’s just a question of keeping up, because the change is happening at breakneck speed. Darwin’s theory never seems so prescient than in today’s techy world; evolve or die.

I’m all for choice, but the bewildering plethora of communication options at your fingertips does create new first world problems (I wanted to invite Mary, but she’s not on Facebook!) Connecting with people never seemed so simultaneously simple yet complex.

In the olden days of course, if you wanted to contact someone you either posted a letter or made a phone call. Snail

Illustration by Wendy BIshop

mail, a.k.a. Australia Post, was relatively efficient and provided the wonderful sensation of receiving something addressed to you that wasn’t a bill, accompanied by the delight of opening and reading it. I recently unearthed the jewels of ten years of handwritten family letters to me in a shoebox, very evocative of my first few years in Australia. But although email has replaced snail mail, the simple art of letter writing seems to have fallen by the wayside. Technological advances mean we’re connected more than ever before, but no-one is really communicating.

My husband and I met backpacking in Greece in 1990 – he from Sydney, me from London. Fifteen months passed before I arrived here and decided to look him up for old times’ sake. I related this tale recently to a young friend, who bemusedly wondered how we were able to reconnect ‘back then’.

On the phone, I said.

Her brow furrowed in genuine confusion before the penny finally dropped – ‘Oh, the landline’!’

Yes, the good old telephone system, one step up from carrier pigeon. It worked a treat for us. Which turned out to be a lucky thing for our children.

Early Education Centres

inspiring young minds to be confident • French Language Program • Yoga and Sport Programs • Music and Movement Program • Cooking Workshops • Urban Farming ProgramJImagine this for your child individuals

all inclusive BeneFits

•Extended care from 7am–6pm • In-house qualified chef provides fresh, nutritious meals daily • Proven Pre-Kinder Program endorsed by NSW Department of Education • Unique G-Learning Curriculum • and Extra Curricular Programs Nappies, wipes and toilet training assistance provided • Parents’ online portal to access child’s portfolio • Access to all current childcare fee subsidies

LANE COVE Open now! visit GREENWOOD.COM.AU or call (02) 9042 0460