A PERSPECTIVE ON SPORT, THE ASHES AND REPUBLICANISM

Australians are not a sentimental lot. We don't thrive on British-like pomp and ceremony nor American-style glitz and glamour. We have our own distinct national identity and we share common values of democracy, equality and justice - sometimes known in more earthy terms as "mateship" and "a fair go". Australians do not take their identity and values lightly, even if, unlike some countries, we don't feel compelled to have them marketed back to us. Australians are enormously proud.

Sporting events like the Ashes cricket series are when you see Australian national pride come to the fore. It would be a serious mistake to discredit Australians love affair with sport as a cheap form of entertainment. Sports like cricket embody our values as a nation. Cricket is owned by everyday Australia. It is not for the rich and famous, nor for the elites or intellectuals. Our cricketing heroes come from everywhere in Australia and from every possible background. Their greatness comes from talent, endurance and dedication, not from privilege or hereditary title. It is no surprise that Australians find their patriotism in sport.

I suspect the choir boys who will accompany the English cricket team (otherwise known as the Barmy Army) may prove themselves louder singers than the Aussie crowds. But, so long as we win the series, I don't think we'll mind their choir boy antics all that much.

The Ashes and the debate on the Republic both have something, yet nothing, to do with the English. While the Ashes is about beating the English in cricket and the Republic is about replacing the Queen with an Australian as Head of State, neither debate is really about the English or the Queen. Ultimately, the Ashes and the Republic are about us: our identity as a nation and our pride as a people.


REPUBLICAN GATHERING THREE (RG3)

Over the weekend of the 4th and 5th of November, the ARM came together with eight other non-ARM Republican groups for Republican Gathering Three (RG3). The gathering was hosted by the Real Republic group in Brisbane and followed on from Republican Gathering ‘05 and RG2 hosted in Canberra by the ARM. It was a positive weekend in which different Republican groups openly shared their views on important themes in the Republic debate, including national days of celebration, visions of what an Australian Republic would be like, engaging people in rural and regional areas, engaging young Australians, the role of states and how to engage politicians.

The purpose of these gatherings is to help build relationships and understandings between Republicans and share different ideas and perspectives. On behalf of the ARM, let me congratulations and thank the organisers, especially Clem Jones and David Muir from the Real Republic group and also a great team from the ARM's Queensland branch including David O'Brien and Ross Garrad. The ARM looks forward to participating in "Republican Gathering Four" which is scheduled for mid-2007 in Sydney, hosted by the Democracy First group, led by Jim Bain.


NATIONAL REPUBLICAN LECTURE

This year's National Republican Lecture will be delivered by Rebecca Huntley, author of "The World According to Y". Engaging young Australians in the Republic debate continues to be one of our ongoing strategic objectives and so it's with great enthusiasm that we are looking forward to Rebecca's lecture.


THANK YOU TO DEPARTING NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The ARM's National Committee (NC) consists of directly elected directors and branch convenors from each state & territory. With NC elections for directly elected directors now underway, let me say a big Thank You to those NC directors who are not contesting this year's NC election, Richard Fidler, Anne Henderson, Natasha Stott-Despoja and Thomas Callachor.

Richard has been a member of the NC since 2001 and has been Chair of the ARM's Constitutional Issues Committee since 2004. He played a leading role in the development of the ARM's Six Models document, the membership review of process options, and our 2004 Senate Inquiry submission. Anne has been a member of the NC since 2002 and has been Deputy Chair of the ARM since 2003. She has played a leading role in helping the movement raise much needed funds, providing operational / administrative leadership and kept us focused on the single issue of an Australian Head of State, including a key role in "A Mate for Head of State" day campaign. Natasha has been a member of the NC for much of the period since the '99 referendum and has played a leading role in helping steer the political strategy of the movement and keeping the issue alive in the halls of parliament. Thomas has been a member of the NC since 2005 and, in the capacity of the National Youth Convenor, has been pursuing ideas to keep younger Australians engaged in the Republic debate.

Richard, Anne, Natasha and Thomas are like so many other wonderful Republicans throughout the country who volunteer their time, passion and expertise to help us on our march towards an Australian Republic. On behalf of all ARM members and supporters, I thank them for their invaluable contributions.

Elections for the ARM's new National Committee have now begun and, yet again, the movement has attracted candidates of the highest calibre. I encourage all ARM members to cast their vote before the rolls close, on Wednesday the 22nd of November.

Republican regards,

Ted O'Brien, ARM Chair
chair@republic.org.au

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Voting in the ARM's National Committee elections is now open.

The candidates for the 9 National Committee positions are:

Jacqueline BARKER
Ka-Sing CHUA
Will FOWLES
Louisa GRAHAM
Mike KEATING
Lynne MINION
Ted O'BRIEN
Marise PAYNE
John PYKE
Mark TEXTOR
John WARHURST
George WILLIAMS

There was only one candidate for the position of Youth Convenor thus Adam Collins of Vic, is declared elected onto the National Committee. Congratulations Adam.

The new NC will be declared on Friday 24 November 2006.

The 2006 Republican Raffle books have now been distributed. This year we have another terrific line-up of prizes:

1st prize: $1000 Westfield shopping voucher
2nd prize: York "Cardiofit 220P" exercise bike from Warhurst Agencies valued at $399
3rd prize: "Nylex Extreme Summer Pack" with premium Nylex, Gardena & Esky products valued at $250
4th prize: Gift voucher from David Jones valued at $250
5th prize: A "Pizza Party Pack" from Eagle Boys valued at $200
6th prize: Bottle of Chinese national drink, Mou Tai valued at $150
7th prize: A selection of 6 Mornington Peninsula wines valued at $150
8th prize: Two cases, Sauvignon Blanc & Syrah Tempranillo, from De Bortoli Wines valued at $144
9th prize: Two bottles of 2003 Plunkett Reserve Shiraz from Strathbogie Ranges Vinters valued at $120
10th prize: An ARM merchandise kit valued at $100

The National Republican Lecturer for 2006 is Rebecca Huntley, social researcher and author of The World according to Y: Inside the New Adult Generation.

This year's Lecture will be delivered in Canberra on the evening of Wednesday 29 November 2006, at the Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Barton.

The title for this year's lecture is: Trust Matters: politics, trust and the republican cause. Rebecca Huntley has indicated that she will address the attitudes of generation Y to the republic and the significance of trust in the political system in engaging on republican and other issues for that age group and the wider community.

The National Republican Lecture has become a major event on the republican calendar, providing fresh insight and perspective for the republican cause. The event is once again being sponsored by Yellow Edge, a Canberra based human resources and business consulting company, with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane and Singapore.

For those ARM members unable to attend the lecture, the text will be posted on the ARM's website, along with previous lectures.

ADELAIDE SHOWGROUND DROPS "ROYAL" FROM ITS NAME

The Royal Adelaide Showground has been re-branded as the Adelaide Showground. The grounds, which are centre stage for many of Adelaide's major events, exhibitions and trade shows, have been entitled with the word "Royal" since 1925. As our SA Convenor, Shannon Schedlich-Day, emphasised in media interviews, while reference to royalty may have been important to people in 1925, it is not relevant today. This re-branding reflects modern Adelaide. The ARM welcomes the move.