Update to the history of my ongoing quest to remove the prayer and include the Acknowledgement of Country into the full meetings of the City of Gold Coast (Council). Update can be found at https://www.happybelly.au/city-of-gold-coast-council/
Here’s an outcome showing that it is perfectly reasonable and possible – https://www.gippslandtimes.com.au/news/2023/02/17/prayer-scrapped-at-council-meetings/
Dear Mayor / Councillors / CEO (email sent 3/3/2023)
I write today to express my disappointment in the lack of a response to my original email,
Whilst understanding that I didn’t ask in a clear form, I thought an acknowledgement and/or explanation would be provided.
Being an atheist, of Scottish heritage I have no direct connection to the oversight presented at Council Meetings. However, I do feel that the deliberate omission of an Acknowledgement of Country and the exclusivity of the Christian prayer (to the exclusion of other faiths or beliefs) at Council meetings, should be corrected. Recent comments about time constraints are ludicrous when considering the time taken for the never ending Conflict of Interest Declarations that can be dramatically reduced with an auto text and/or template feature.
Passionate and lengthy debate around the cable car, both at Committee and the Full Council meeting dealt with the need to seek the opinions and wishes of the Traditional Custodians and then the Community at large. Despite the routine confusion of some Councillors, the motion passed. The need and agreement for these discussions, should justify the Acknowledgment of Country being read at each Full Council Meeting. Recent ABC news story stated that the matter would be voted on during the 28th Feb Meeting.
In respect to the Acknowledgment of Country and the prayer, I introduced my concerns to the following groups. Aside from most Divisional admin representatives and only one group from below, I’ve received no reply.
Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation
Gold Coast Hindu Cultural Association (GCHCA)
Note: In my clumsy misunderstanding, I incorrectly asked for a Welcome to Country, when it should be an Acknowledgment of Country. I did correct this in my email to the Yugambeh Museum contact. City of Gold Coast’s own web page dealing with the Welcome and Acknowledgment Statements
Thank you
Alan Crawford
This is a reposting of my previous endeavour due to some frightening back of house drama and the restoration of an older database. Sadly my previous post wasn’t included. The email below was sent to City Of Gold Coast 24 December 2022. Aside from most Divisional admin representatives, I’ve received no reply. I introduced my concerns to:
Gold Coast Hebrew Congregation
Gold Coast Hindu Cultural Association (GCHCA)
Only one group I contacted has responded and did so almost immediately and while being very interested, said they would send a letter to Council. After the ridiculous statements by the Mayor, (not having enough time and staff wages) ABC Gold Coast News published a story which seems amazingly coincidental. The prayer aspect was not included in that article. In my clumsy misunderstanding, I incorrectly asked for a Welcome to Country when it should be an Acknowledgment of Country. I did correct this in my email to the Yugambeh Museum contact.
Dear Mayor, Councillors,
I seek your consideration to changing a prominent agenda item in Council Meetings.
I ask that City of Gold Coast (Council) stop the reading of the Christian Prayer at the full Council meetings. Council is not a Christian organisation and does not operate as such. The prominence given to this prayer may lead an observer to assume it is.
Ross Giudice replied to a previous email (29/11/21) stating that this agenda item is at the Chairperson’s discretion. I’m unsure of the protocol for the Committee meetings. The Chair’s personal belief and offering of this particular prayer excludes other faiths represented in the City. It is also very surprising that no Acknowledgement of Country is offered at these meetings.
Can I suggest creating a statement that will include all citizens within the City, without excluding any types or level of belief.
Indeed, the blending of a “pledge or statement of commitment that is meaningful to all people”, with or without faith and the Welcome to Country will be appreciated by all. Providing no exclusion or a misunderstanding of Council’s standing in the community. The recent report on the work of faith based organisations on the Gold Coast highlights the diversity of our population.
Thank you for your time and I hope that adjustments can be made and applied in 2023.
City of Gold Coast’s own web page dealing with the Welcome and Acknowledgment Statements.
NAYBA Impact Audit https://www.nayba.org/resources/goldcoast
Publicly available information and the recipients of my email.
Subject: Christian prayer at Council Meetings
Date: 24 December 2022 at 7:54:28 am AEST
To: City of Gold-Coast-MAIL <mail@goldcoast.qld.gov.au>
Cc: mayor@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, <division2@goldcoast.qld.gov.au>, division1@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division4@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division3@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division5@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division6@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division7@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division8@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division9@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division10@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division11@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division12@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division13@goldcoast.qld.gov.au, division14@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
https://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Council-region/Mayor-Councillors
I'm an increasingly grumpy old fart posting rants, observations and trying to write somewhat twisted short and slightly longer stories for adults. All rights reserved unless otherwise credited © Alan Crawford - 2024
