Previous find of the month
March 2012
Canberra Day Official Programme - 1967
This month ArchivesACT has found an original copy of the 1967 Canberra Day Official Programme. As is often the case, this programme was not found on a file specifically related to Canberra Day but on the more general file ‘A3811-1/15 - Bush Fire Council - Publicity - Displays and Demonstrations’. This file also has details on field days and parades that the ACT Bush Fire Council participated in from 1967 to 1972.
Background to Canberra Day
Canberra Day was established to commemorate the founding and naming of Canberra by Lady Denman on the 12th of March 1913. Discussion on establishing an official ‘Canberra Day’ began in the Canberra Times of 1933 leading to the Advisory Council publically supporting the concept in 1934. Newspapers of the time document this:
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'Canberra’s Anniversary' - Canberra Times, 13 March 1933: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2343084
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'Canberra Day' - Canberra Times, 15 March 1933: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2343668
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'Canberra’s Day, Advisory Council’s Support' – Canberra Times, 16 January 1934: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2328190
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'Canberra’s Twenty-First Anniversary' - Canberra Times, 12 March 1934: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2340159
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'Canberra's Birthday' - Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 1938: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17448202
It wasn’t until 1951 that Canberra Day festivities actually taking place were reported on. However these celebrations were part of the Jubilee Celebrations for that year and there was still no official Government recognition of Canberra Day as an annual event.
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'Jubilee Plans for Canberra Cover Many Activities' - Canberra Times, 19 September 1950: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2799181
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'Celebrating Canberra Day' - Canberra Times, 8 March 1951: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2824103
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'Canberra Pioneers' Jubilee Reunion - Canberra Times, 13 March 1951: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2824546
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'Canberra Day in the Schools' - Canberra Times, 13 March 1951: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2824540
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'Council Seeks Recognition of Canberra Day' - Canberra Times, 13 March 1951: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2824516
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'New Advisory Council Looks Ahead' - Canberra Times, 3 October 1951: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2838985
The first “public” celebration of Canberra Day took place in 1958 with an official reception at the Albert Hall held by the then Minister for the Interior, Mr Allen Fairhall. He described the reception as “the first public celebration of Canberra Day.”(1)
He continued “A true celebration does not proceed from a decision by a Government. It is something that begins in the hearts and minds of the people. Whatever Government is in office, however, I hope Canberra Day will always be honoured for its significance in the building of the national capital.” (1)
A recent event for Canberra Day is the release of ACT Government records from 20 years before by the Director of Territory Records. These records are now open to public access. At the same time ACT Cabinet records from 10 years before are also released.
Links to external sites:
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Wikipedia - Canberra Day: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra_Day
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Events ACT - Canberra Day: http://www.events.act.gov.au/?/event/view/314
Bibliography:
(1) 'Canberra Seen as Focus of National Pride' - Canberra Times, 13/03/1958, page 3