If you didn’t recognise the flag flying on the Town Hall over the weekend of July 9/10, there is a good reason.
It is the flag of the newest nation in the world: The Republic of South Sudan, which celebrated its first day of official existence on Saturday, July 9, taking its place as the 55th African country.
Some members of the local South Sudanese community went to larger centres to celebrate but those who were unable to travel joined with members of Armidale Sanctuary Humanitarian Settlement to mark the occasion.
About 60 people gathered in Wesley Hall, Rusden Street, from the grounds of which the new flag could be seen fluttering in the breeze over the Town Hall..
Music was played, decorations put up and a feast of African and Australian cuisine shared.
Nine-year-old Akuch Chadar spoke of the importance of the day on behalf of her mother Victoria.
Speakers Faisal Hassan and David Yakuac shared their mixed feelings. There was elation at the promise of a new country. This was mixed with sadness when reflecting on the cost of this achievement, both in effort and in the loss of some two million lives during more than 50 years of unrest, which included two major wars. The most recent war lasted for more than 20 years. Over the period, more than four million people were displaced from their homes and many of them fled as refugees.
Thanks were expressed to the neighbouring countries who accepted those who fled; and particular thanks too to Australia for its welcome to those who came as refugees. Particular gratitude was expressed to Armidale where people of many different backgrounds are welcomed and live in harmony.
The challenges facing the new Republic of South Sudan are great. Not only does the country have to recover from the ravages of war, but from a prior history of colonisation during which all the infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, roads etc went into the north.
Principal organiser of the celebrations, Robin Jones, directed her remarks in particular to the children. She reminded them of the geography of Sudan and pointed out that boundaries are shared with nine other countries. In the room there were people who had come to Australia from five of those countries: Egypt, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
The children in the room were all born outside South Sudan. For them, Australia is truly home but South Sudan is part of their heritage. They were given tee-shirts featuring the new flag, with the suggestion they wear them with pride each year on July 9.
Mary Dut led those present in a final gesture to mark the significance of the day. This was a traditional African blessing of the new nation, with all present going outside to sprinkle water on the ground.
Some years ago, Armidale Dumaresq Council declared our town a ‘Refugee Welcome Zone’. Armidale Sanctuary thanks the Council for its support in the celebration of nationhood for the land of origin of members of our local South Sudanese community.
