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Fans Call For Australia To Make Dual National Anthem Permanent

Fans Call For Australia To Make Dual National Anthem Permanent

The Australian national anthem was sung in Indigenous First Nations language ahead of the Wallabies' clash with Argentina.

Anonymous

Anonymous

By Stewart Perrie

The Wallabies' match against Argentina over the weekend made history when a First Nations language was used to sing part of the Australian anthem.

It was the first time an Indigenous national anthem was used at an international sporting event involving an Australian team.

The singer, Olivia Fox, performed 'Advance Australia Fair' in the Eora language (which is the Aboriginal Australians people of New South Wales) and then did it in English before the Test match began in Sydney.

Rugby Australia has released the lyrics that were sung.

Australiagal ya'nga yabun

Eora budgeri

Yarragal Bamal Yarrabuni

Ngurra garrigarrang

Nura mari guwing bayabuba

Diara-murrahmah-coing

Guwugu yago ngabay burrabagur

Yirribana Australiagal

Garraburra ngayiri yabun

Yirribana Australiagal

People went wild for the moment on social media and some even called for it to be made permanent.

One person wrote on Twitter: "Every time from now on, this is how it should be. Felt proudly Australian during the anthem for once."

Another said: "Wonderful rendition. Especially with guitar. Should be sung this way every game. The first verse could be sung in the language of whichever country the stadium they're playing at is on."

A third added: "The gold standard for our national anthem - may this be a new beginning. And she's a teenager! Well done Olivia Fox for rising to the occasion and gifting us with such a beautiful rendition, and well done Australian rugby."

Each member of the Australian rugby union team sang the dual anthems with gusto after reportedly learning the lyrics earlier last week.

The Australian national anthem has seen many calls in the last few weeks and months for an overhaul.

During NAIDOC week, a time to raise awareness for Aboriginal and Islanders issues and celebrates Australia's indigenous history before European settlers arrived in 1770, there were many who thought a simple change in the lyrics would make the song more inclusive.

Fox Sports

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian led the charge to get the words 'young and free' to be altered to 'we are one and free'.

Saying that Australia is 'young' is a slap in the face to Indigenous Aussies who have been living on the land for a good 60,000 years, says campaigners.

The Premier told Channel 7's Sunrise: "We have a very proud Indigenous culture of tens of thousands of years on this continent, so I guess to say 'we are young and free' ignores that.

"I just feel hurt for people who don't feel the anthem includes them."

Judging from the reaction at the Wallabies match on the weekend, it looks like there could be a good appetite to change the anthem to include an Indigenous language.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Rugby, Rugby Australia, Wallabies, Rugby Union, Argentina, Australia