Canberrans were urged yesterday to overcome the mind-set that the rest of Australia has against it and to overcome the introspection of being a company town so that a love of the capital can become part of the sensible patriotism of all Australians.
The chairman of the Federal Capital Press of Australia Pty Ltd, publisher of The Canberra Times, Kerry Stokes, made the call in the first of half a dozen major addresses leading to a conference in September entitled “”Canberra: Face of the Nation?” at the University of Canberra.
“”When the Federal Government makes an unpopular decision, the people of Canberra tend to be apportioned some of the blame,” he said. “”In that sentiment lies the most daunting challenge facing Canberra: It’s the national mind-set against the place, a coast-to-coast resentment ingrained from generation of derision, cynicism and misunderstanding.
“”People can only put this on you if you are prepared to accept it.”
Mr Stokes called on Canberrans to change this by showing Canberra to other Australians with warmth and pride. It was a change that had to come from the bottom up; unlike fads which came from the top down.
He thought that Australians should reject the perversity whereby Federal politicians could score brownie points by sinking the boot into Canberra. One way of ensuring that was for Canberrans to use tourism to get a better understanding of Canberra as the house of our national possessions, functions, treasures and much of our national intellect.
To do that Canberrans would have to overcome a natural Australian tendency not to brag.
Mr Stokes, who lives in Perth, has had business interests in Canberra for the part 13 years, is on the board of the Canberra Theatre Trust and was a member of National Capital Planning Committee that advised the former National Capital Development Commission before self-government.
He said, “”They say you have to be cruel to be kind, but too many people out there, beyond your borders aren’t too fussed about you, about your welfare or, frighteningly, about having any pride in their national capital, the epicentre of Australia’s democratic process.”
However, there were some good signs. He cited the Vietnam veteran’s weekend as a prime example of Canberra showing itself as the national city to all Australians.
“”It was a human time for the nation; a healing time,” he said. “”It could only be done nationally. And could only be done in Canberra.”
The success of the National Gallery Australia’s major exhibitions were similarly important for Canberra’s definition.
“”It is here in Canberra that the essence of spirit of our democracy and culture should be cultivated,” he said.
Canberra had a potential to develop into the clever city. It was not too late for the Very Fast Train and it was time the National Museum of Australia went ahead in earnest. Similarly, Canberra should get an Australian Rules football team. Sport was more important that politics in Australia. The success of the Cannons and the Raiders marked the acceptance of Canberra beyond politics.
Mr Stokes said the local government had a major role.
“”The nature of the city and the historical structure of Canberra does not allow local government to melt into being an ordinary town council,” he said. “”It has an almost quasi-national responsibility to police planning standards so that the uniqueness of the Burley Griffin plan is not lost to future generations.”
The days of Federal hand-outs were gone. The local government had to embark on initiatives of its own.
None the less Australia had to continue investment in the city.
“”To deny Canberra its birthright as a national capital is to undermine the national investment to date,” he said. “”And to starve the city of the trappings of a capital is to strangle and debase its function as the national seat of democracy.”
The “”Canberra Face the Nation?” conference is sponsored by the Canberra Business Council, the National Capital Planning Authority, the ACT Government and the University of Canberra. Six lead-up addresses will be given in Canberra by leading Australians with strong Canberra connections and three other addresses will be given in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane before the September conference at the University of Canberra which will be addressed by the Prime Minister, Paul Keating; the Leader of the Opposition, John Hewson; and the chair of the board of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation, Sir Ninian Stephen, among others.
The chairman of the National Capital Planning Authority, Joe Skrzynski, said the vision of Canberra had to be one beyond politics. More than $2 billion had been invested in the Parliamentary Triangle in bricks and mortar alone. Taxpayers should get an intellectual and physical return for that investment.
He hoped the NCPA would get better funding to fulfil its statutory function to promote Canberra and educate Australians about Canberra.
The vice-chancellor of the University of Canberra, Professor Don Aitkin, said the conference and lead-up addresses would expose the strengths and weaknesses of Canberra’s place in the nation _ a timely task.