The rumour.

There was a rumour floating around a little while ago on Facebook about Australian schools 'banning' Advance Australia Fair, our national anthem. Straight away I knew it would bs, but I did some research into it and found the source. And I had to laugh.

There was two private schools in Perth which decided that instead of having the normal second verse of AAF, or even skipping the second verse which is done all the time and going straight to the third, they put their own second verse in instead.

The normal first and second verses: (and the one that is normally left out)

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"

When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Beneath our radiant southern Cross,
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"


What the private Perth schools were having the children sing:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"


With Christ our head and cornerstone, we'll build our nation's might;
Whose way and truth and light alone, can guide our path aright;
Our lives a sacrifice of love, reflect our master's care;
With faces turned to heav'n above, Advance Australia Fair;
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.


While a private school can pretty much do what they want, this is rediculous. One it is our national anthem, and they have changed it (like, WTF?), and two, I do not think that they are even telling the kids that this is 'their' version and not the real one.

If this is the source of the rumour not long ago, then GOOD. I would not want my child singing the improvised version, ever. Lets keep to the real national anthem. It said nothing about god, religion or faith. And that is the way it should be.


While I'm at it too, I think this should be the new 'version' if it ever gets changed. I personally like the words, hate the actual song. If this was the song, I'd sing it loud and proud every time.