This is the speech delivered by the Governor-General, Sir William Deane, to commemorate the Centenary of the Proclamation of Federation.
The Governor-General read a message from the Queen and initiated the celebrations of Australia’s Centenary of Federation, at a ceremony in Centennial Park, Sydney.
- Listen to Sir William Deane’s speech (6m)
We come together to Centennial Park to commemorate the proclamation of our Federation, at this place, one hundred years ago.
Together, we represent all Australians, across all States and Territories.
We also represent, as their heirs and beneficiaries, the four million people of the six Australian colonies who, “relying on the blessing of Almighty God”, came together as the Commonwealth of Australia on the First of January 1901. [Read more…]