Valley cold on switch for Oz Day

THE latest move to change the date of Australia Day will not be supported by the Derwent Valley Council.

Following a successful belated Australia Day celebration being held in the upper Derwent Valley last weekend, Councillor Rachel Power proposed that the council support the Hobart City Council’s push to change the date of the national day.

Traditional Australia Day events in Maydena had been cancelled due to the extreme bushfire risk to the town on January 26. With the fire risk now greatly reduced, Maydena and nearby National Park held their delayed celebrations last weekend.

Cr Power told this week’s Derwent Valley Council meeting the success of the delayed event led her to believe it was time to consider changing the date.

Cr Anne Salt seconded Cr Power’s motion that the council should support a change to the date of Australia Day when it is voted on at next week’s Local Government Association meeting.

Former mayor Martyn Evans told the meeting Australia Day for him had always been on Australia Day and always would be.

No other councillors spoke and when put to the vote the motion was defeated 4-2 with two councillors absent.

The LGAT meeting in Devonport on March 29 will consider the Hobart City Council’s proposal that the councils’ group should lobby the Federal Government to change the date of Australia Day.