In early 1999 when I was working as a young lawyer, I was struck down by a crippling bout of back pain, and I had to spend several months in bed.
After going through every kind of despair lying there week after week, I one day decided to read the newspaper. It was during that exciting time when hope was thriving about the upcoming referendum on whether Australia should become a republic. I saw that the newspapers were calling for suggestions for a new wording for the Preamble to the Australian Constition, to include the Aboriginal people and to reflect modern Australian values.
Now here was a task to consume a young wordsmith!
I decided to take on the nigh impossible challenge of putting together our nation's hopes and dreams, together with all of our fundamental legal and constitutional precepts, and an honouring of our history and our indigenous people. And to add to the degree of difficulty, I decided that instead of the dry dull legislative language of the current Preamble, I would write mine with rhyme and rhythm, something that children could learn by heart at school and that people would be able to remember and recite with pride and love!
I lay amongst a pile of legal texts, scribbles, and ink-stained sheets for many weeks, as my Preamble slowly formed. Finally satisfied that I had achieved my goal, I sent it to various interest groups for feedback: Aboriginal groups, women's groups, political parties, newspapers, my friends and family. And to my delight, it was universally liked and embraced.
Of course, shortly afterwards the bogus referendum was held, and failed, and the campaign for an Australian republic was put back in a drawer, to await a more enlightened time... And so my Preamble was not then needed.
But I pull it out again now, in case it inspires anyone once again with the dream that our country can be different.
Tahnee Woolf.
After going through every kind of despair lying there week after week, I one day decided to read the newspaper. It was during that exciting time when hope was thriving about the upcoming referendum on whether Australia should become a republic. I saw that the newspapers were calling for suggestions for a new wording for the Preamble to the Australian Constition, to include the Aboriginal people and to reflect modern Australian values.
Now here was a task to consume a young wordsmith!
I decided to take on the nigh impossible challenge of putting together our nation's hopes and dreams, together with all of our fundamental legal and constitutional precepts, and an honouring of our history and our indigenous people. And to add to the degree of difficulty, I decided that instead of the dry dull legislative language of the current Preamble, I would write mine with rhyme and rhythm, something that children could learn by heart at school and that people would be able to remember and recite with pride and love!
I lay amongst a pile of legal texts, scribbles, and ink-stained sheets for many weeks, as my Preamble slowly formed. Finally satisfied that I had achieved my goal, I sent it to various interest groups for feedback: Aboriginal groups, women's groups, political parties, newspapers, my friends and family. And to my delight, it was universally liked and embraced.
Of course, shortly afterwards the bogus referendum was held, and failed, and the campaign for an Australian republic was put back in a drawer, to await a more enlightened time... And so my Preamble was not then needed.
But I pull it out again now, in case it inspires anyone once again with the dream that our country can be different.
Tahnee Woolf.
PREAMBLE TO THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION
We, the Australian people, come together in true sovereignty
United by our strong belief in freedom and equality
Our ancient land has felt the loving touch of many hands
Of timeless native guardians, and folk from far off lands
Like our vast and varied landscape, our diversity defines us
And tolerance adds strength to the democracy that binds us
Under rule of law, our hearts beat as a single federation
Our future's bound not by the sea, but our imagination
With pride we stride ahead to make our global contribution
And, hand in hand, commit ourselves to this, our Constitution.
We, the Australian people, come together in true sovereignty
United by our strong belief in freedom and equality
Our ancient land has felt the loving touch of many hands
Of timeless native guardians, and folk from far off lands
Like our vast and varied landscape, our diversity defines us
And tolerance adds strength to the democracy that binds us
Under rule of law, our hearts beat as a single federation
Our future's bound not by the sea, but our imagination
With pride we stride ahead to make our global contribution
And, hand in hand, commit ourselves to this, our Constitution.