Why we must continue to ‘Advance Australia Fair’

Our national anthem has come in for some criticism in the last month with claims it is not inclusive or contemporary.

The ANZAC round of the Rugby League saw both the New Zealand and the Australian anthems played at each match, and I got to wondering about the background to these anthems.

I am old enough to remember ‘God Save the Queen’ being played at the start of the ‘pictures’ and everyone standing as the Queen’s image was shown on screen.

This is actually still New Zealand’s national anthem, but only played on regal occasions. In Australia, it is also the anthem played in the presence of royalty. Interestingly, only the Queen gets the full verse, other royalty only the first six bars! The anthem dates from 1619, and has had up to six verses at various times, though now only three.

I can remember voting in a plebiscite in 1977 which was held at the time of a referendum on Australia’s choice for a national anthem. Our choices were ‘God Save the Queen’, ‘Advance Australia Fair’, ‘Song of Australia’ and ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Overwhelming we voted for ‘Advance Australia Fair’, except in South Australia which voted for ‘Song of Australia’ and the ACT which voted for ‘Waltzing Matilda’.

‘Song of Australia’ was written by Caroline Carleton in the late nineteenth century, with music by Carl Linger, both South Australians. It has been very popular in South Australian schools. and a great favourite of the singer Peter Dawson. The ABC production, ‘ANZAC Girls’ used it to haunting effect in the six-episode series in 2014.

’God Save the Queen’ was written in 1619 and is the official anthem of fifteen countries, though, with the exception of the United Kingdom, it is only sung in the presence of royalty. There have been up to six verses over the centuries, though currently there are three. I can only recall one.

Peter Dodds McCormick wrote ‘Advance Australia Fair’ in 1878 and it is our national anthem to be played except when royalty is present on ceremonial occasions. In 1974 when Whitlam was Prime Minister it was declared our ‘national song’ which was to be played on occasions of significance, except when royalty was present. Under Fraser, the status of ‘God Save the Queen’ was restored, and if royalty was not present, ‘Advance Australia Fair’, ‘Waltzing Matilda’, ‘Song of Australia’ or ‘God Save the Queen’ could be played. No wonder we went to a plebiscite!

Andrew Barton Patterson wrote the words to ‘Waltzing Matilda’ in 1895 to a tune he heard played by Christina McPherson on her family’s station in Winton, Queensland. She had heard the tune, a Celtic march, played the year before. It was published as sheet music in 1903, and has remained popular. Our affection for this song, is a mystery to others.

I remember being at an international conference in Boston in 1997 where the Australian contingent got up on stage and beefed out ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Two Ukrainians, fluent English speakers, sitting at our table were puzzled by the subject matter and the song’s status. But it is song associated with us. On the same trip, hearing a busker play a wonderful rendition of ‘Basin Street Blues’, one of our group went over, threw in some coins and said, ‘Thanks, mate.’ Whereupon, we were treated to ‘Waltzing Matilda’.

There are some other contenders for national songs in our affections – Men at Work’s ‘I Come From a Land Down Under’, and Bruce Woodley’s ‘I am Australian’.

We are used to hearing the first verse of the New Zealand national anthem sung in Maori, but this practice only began at a Rugby Union match in 1999. The Maori verse is not an exact translation of the English, either, though the sentiments are similar. New Zealand, has two official anthems, though practice, not law, sees ‘God Save the Queen’ reserved for royal occasions.

The poem ‘God Defend New Zealand’ was written in the 1870s by Thomas Bracken, and the music written in 1876 by John Woods. The music was rearranged by Fernie to make it more suitable for massed voices to sing. It was made the National Hymn in 1940, and the second national anthem in 1977.

To those who criticise ‘Advance Australia Fair’ on the grounds it excludes some, I would comment that that is a deliberately narrow interpretation. ‘Fair’ is a word with many meanings – beautiful, equitable, light in colour, a place to sell goods. It is the first that is intended.

‘Girt’ comes in for a fair bit of ribbing. It is an archaic word, but so is ‘lest’ and no one is suggesting we stop saying ‘Lest we forget’.

The anthem has been criticised for not reflecting current Australia with the suggestion it needs updating. I think anthems are meant to reflect history. The French would be horrified if it was mooted that the Marseillaise be updated with its revolutionary fervour, likewise ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ for our US allies.

 I think we will be singing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ as it is for many years yet.