Smeagol-Gollum
05-05-2004, 10:37
I know that "cut and paste" is seemingly frowned on, but I really couldn't resist this one.
Hope it may help that I always quote a source, give a comment, and am ready to debate the issue if required.
Can't save the Queen
GOD Save The Queen will no longer be sung in town halls across NSW, after the Country Women's Association voted yesterday to abandon a 70-year tradition.
The CWA's annual general conference rejected a motion by pro-royal branches to enshrine the royal anthem in the association's rules. Instead, members will only be allowed to sing Advance Australia Fair and the official anthem of the CWA.
God Save The Queen has been sung at the end of meetings since 1932.
The move by the 800 delegates will be seized on as a victory by republicans.
South Coast branch member Marie De La Torre told the conference: "This is not a republican issue so much as a protocol issue. In England they don't sing the royal anthem unless Her Majesty is present or a member of her family is present."
The move has put the issue of cutting ties with Mother England back on the agenda and achieved what the enthusiasts behind the Australian Republican Movement could not.
Two delegates from each CWA branch attended the meeting in Queanbeyan and the decisions taken represent the views of thousands of women in towns from Sawtell to Bungendore.
Behind the image of kindly ladies serving tea and cakes, the CWA is one of the state's most influential not-for-profit organisations.
It has 44,000 members across the country, far outstripping the membership of any of the major political parties.
During a fiery annual conference, the majority of delegates argued that God Save The Queen should be reserved for royal visits and not included in weekly CWA rituals.
The monarchists were led by members of the Cumberland evening branch, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Districts and Ryde-Eastwood branches.
Their rejected proposal declared: "The royal anthem shall be sung and the motto of the Country Women's Association shall be repeated at every meeting."
While much of the debate centred on changes to the CWA constitution, the annual conference also tackled issues ranging from staff shortages in country schools to phone services in the bush.
Guest speaker Lyn Sykes, who works with farming families to keep them on the land, told the conference that older generations had a responsibility to leave the family business well placed for their children.
"If you take a child into a family business then you are taking responsibility for the future career of that child," Mrs Sykes said.
Later in the afternoon, delegates voted on issues ranging from health funding in the bush to moves by the Armidale branch to shut the bar on Countrylink train services.
Another branch, from Milvale, demanded that the Australian film industry produce more "G-rated" films in cinemas for families.
SOURCE.
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1258&storyid=1293744
COMMENT
Has to be seen as a minor victory for Australian republicans on the long road to our republic. The CWA has always been one of the major conservative forces in Australia, for them to make this move is a wonderful morale boost for republicans. The swelling tide will prove iirrestible, and will sweep away foreign monarchs for all time.
And, vale The Red Arrow. I admired his dogged persistence. RIP.
Hope it may help that I always quote a source, give a comment, and am ready to debate the issue if required.
Can't save the Queen
GOD Save The Queen will no longer be sung in town halls across NSW, after the Country Women's Association voted yesterday to abandon a 70-year tradition.
The CWA's annual general conference rejected a motion by pro-royal branches to enshrine the royal anthem in the association's rules. Instead, members will only be allowed to sing Advance Australia Fair and the official anthem of the CWA.
God Save The Queen has been sung at the end of meetings since 1932.
The move by the 800 delegates will be seized on as a victory by republicans.
South Coast branch member Marie De La Torre told the conference: "This is not a republican issue so much as a protocol issue. In England they don't sing the royal anthem unless Her Majesty is present or a member of her family is present."
The move has put the issue of cutting ties with Mother England back on the agenda and achieved what the enthusiasts behind the Australian Republican Movement could not.
Two delegates from each CWA branch attended the meeting in Queanbeyan and the decisions taken represent the views of thousands of women in towns from Sawtell to Bungendore.
Behind the image of kindly ladies serving tea and cakes, the CWA is one of the state's most influential not-for-profit organisations.
It has 44,000 members across the country, far outstripping the membership of any of the major political parties.
During a fiery annual conference, the majority of delegates argued that God Save The Queen should be reserved for royal visits and not included in weekly CWA rituals.
The monarchists were led by members of the Cumberland evening branch, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Districts and Ryde-Eastwood branches.
Their rejected proposal declared: "The royal anthem shall be sung and the motto of the Country Women's Association shall be repeated at every meeting."
While much of the debate centred on changes to the CWA constitution, the annual conference also tackled issues ranging from staff shortages in country schools to phone services in the bush.
Guest speaker Lyn Sykes, who works with farming families to keep them on the land, told the conference that older generations had a responsibility to leave the family business well placed for their children.
"If you take a child into a family business then you are taking responsibility for the future career of that child," Mrs Sykes said.
Later in the afternoon, delegates voted on issues ranging from health funding in the bush to moves by the Armidale branch to shut the bar on Countrylink train services.
Another branch, from Milvale, demanded that the Australian film industry produce more "G-rated" films in cinemas for families.
SOURCE.
http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1258&storyid=1293744
COMMENT
Has to be seen as a minor victory for Australian republicans on the long road to our republic. The CWA has always been one of the major conservative forces in Australia, for them to make this move is a wonderful morale boost for republicans. The swelling tide will prove iirrestible, and will sweep away foreign monarchs for all time.
And, vale The Red Arrow. I admired his dogged persistence. RIP.