Lions Club of Bull Creek members Denis O’Brien, Deb Marks, Dianne Oeding and Terry Johnson are looking forward to Australia Day.
Camera IconLions Club of Bull Creek members Denis O’Brien, Deb Marks, Dianne Oeding and Terry Johnson are looking forward to Australia Day. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson

Council expects ‘smart casual’ dress at Australia Day celebrations

Aaron CorlettMelville Gazette

THE City of Melville will enforce a “smart casual” dress code, with traditional dress accepted, at its Australia Day citizenship ceremony in line with the Federal Government’s new rules.

Mayor George Gear said local organisers had never had any reason to comment on someone’s attire in the more than 300 citizenship ceremonies held in the past, but if it “was to happen we would simply advise that a change of clothing would be required before the ceremony”.

“The community have always attired themselves appropriately and respectfully,” he said.

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He urged attendees to don a hat and sunscreen given Sunday is forecast to reach 36 degrees.

Melville Mayor George Gear.
Camera IconMelville Mayor George Gear. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

The clothing crackdown is part of the Government’s new Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, which forces councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and enforce a dress code.

Melville is in line with most WA councils in opting for smart casual dress while also accepting traditional and cultural dress. Thongs, and in some cases T-shirts and shorts, have been given the thumbs down.

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said while there was no overarching code, councils were required to set standards that reflected the occasion’s significance, while also being reflective of their community and climate.

“Citizenship is the ultimate privilege a nation can bestow on someone who comes to Australia, and the requirement to introduce a dress code ensures we maintain and continue to recognise the significance and formality of a citizenship ceremony,” they said.

New citizens

THE Parr family will fulfil a dream when they become citizens on Australia Day.

Parents Alison and Stuart, daughters Emma (20), Aimee (19) and son Adam (14) will attend the City of Melville’s celebrations on Sunday at John Creaney Reserve in Bull Creek.

Now settled in Attadale, the family of five moved from the rainy Lancashire town Chorley to Perth in 2014 in a spontaneous decision.

Mrs Parr said she met her husband on a holiday in the Caribbean and they had been seeking warm weather.

“Life in the north- west of England is very wet so we moved to Australia on a whim; we’d never been here before,” she said.

“We’ve had no regrets about the move and we are here to stay. We don’t have family apart from ourselves but we’ve made new friends.”

Attadale family Alison, Emma, Adam, Aimee and Stuart Parr. Aaron Corlett
Camera IconAttadale family Alison, Emma, Adam, Aimee and Stuart Parr. Aaron Corlett Credit: Supplied/Supplied

After family study sessions to prepare for the citizenship test, the Parrs are excited to become Australians among nearly 100 others on the same day in Bull Creek.

“We’ve got friends coming along and it’ll be a big celebration,” Mrs Parr said.

The City’s Australia Day celebrations begin at 8.30am with a flag raising ceremony to commence at 9am, followed by a Welcome to Country, citizenship ceremony and the announcement of the Community Citizen of the Year Awards.

The Lions Club of Bull Creek will hold a sausage sizzle barbecue breakfast, served for a gold-coin donation.