Not happy with Inverloch citizens event

Re: The Australia Day Citizenship Day for Bass Coast.

As a very proud and loyal Australian, I was embarrassed, mortified, humiliated, and hurt for all the amazing people who had made the very personal and I would imagine for some, a challenging decision to become and Australian Citizen.
The officials and elected representatives from Bass Coast Council were an embarrassment to me as an Australian and to the Bass Coast Community.

The Mayor, Councillor Michael Whelan, looked positively bored with the entire proceedings. From his standard of dress, black jeans, casual shirt, and sandals, to slouching on his seat, looking at the ceiling, chewing on the arm of his glasses and constantly fidgeting during the entire time the guest speaker was speaking.

He demonstrated a total lack of respect for those reading their Pledge. As they read it, Mayor Whelan was busy in the background getting the next box on gifts and certificate ready. He would not give each person the time and respect this significant occasion deserved i.e. listening quietly and intently whilst each one made their pledge.

He introduced the ex-Mayor, Cr Brett Tessari, as an Emeritus Mayor. There is no such title for Mayor. Cr Tessari dressed in his beach best, attending this important occasion in shorts, a very creased shirt and thongs. Again, absolutely no respect shown for those making their Pledge as new Australian Citizens.

Deputy Mayor Cr Leticia Laing had at least made an effort in her standard of dress for the occasion. However, the constant apologies for mispronouncing names was, again, extremely embarrassing and disrespectful. The names should have been practiced and practiced and spelt out phonetically by council staff for Cr Laing.

The audio system did not work, it was almost impossible to hear anything. This should have been tested a number of times before the ceremony commenced.

This just added to the “Faulty Towers” feeling of the ceremony, a ceremony that should have demonstrated respect, pride and a huge welcome to our newest Australians. It should have been a proud moment for me as an Australian and humbling to think that people from lands and cultures very remote to Australia wanted to join me as an Australian in this incredible, diverse and culturally-rich country that we are privileged to live in.

The lack of senior council officers including the CEO or at least the deputy CEO was again very disappointing.

It was a very hot day, however, those making their Pledge and becoming our newest Australians took the time to dress for this very special occasion. Some of the men in suits, no one in thongs and shorts. Perhaps there needs to be a dress code implemented if officials are not capable of making the respectful and right decisions themselves.

I have attended other Australia Day Citizenship Ceremonies, and they have been professional, respectful, insightful and we learnt a little of the history and background of our newest Australian citizens, together with the excitement of welcoming them as citizens of Australia. They were proud and humbling experiences that people were choosing to join our Australian family.

As an Australian, a citizen of Bass Coast I could not have been more disappointed by the numerous ways our elected representatives let us and our newest citizens down. It was quite simply, a disgrace.

Ellen Johnson.