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Sunday 6 May
The celebrations will kick off with Federation Football which will take place through a partnership with the Australian Football League In 1901, the VFL Match Playing Committee decided that the round two league matches would be played on the Thursday, 9 May 1901 holiday, celebrating the Opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. The games involved Melbourne, South Melbourne, Collingwood, Carlton, Fitzroy, Geelong, St Kilda and Essendon. Football has been a way of life for many Australians, particularly Victorians, for more than 100 years and it is fitting that this institution heralds the commencement of the May 2001 Celebrations.
Our Nation on Parade - From Federation to the Future (Sunday 6th May)
The parade will feature a retrospective of Australia since Federation and will focus upon the achievements of Victoria over the past 100 years. Pivotal to this event will be the involvement of all communities and rural and regional Victorians. The contribution of industry to the continued growth and expansion of our nation will also be acknowledged. In addition to the floats and parade entries that will be developed by Victorians, the parade will also feature floats from the Sydney Parade, including those floats representing the States and Territories of Australia.
A Sense of Place - Multi-faith Celebration (Monday May 7th)
Celebrates the importance of faith to Australia’s cultural identity over the past 100 years. It will reflect the infusion of new faiths in the Australian community and promote principles of inclusively. The multi-faith celebration is being organised in partnership between Centenary of Federation and the World Conference on Religion and Peace.
World Conference on Religion and Peace
A Nation United - Joint Commemorative Ceremonial Federation Sitting and Commemoration Ceremony (Wednesday May 9th)
On the official declaration of the Australian Parliament, “..a cheer then broke out among the assembled guests. It ran around the aisles, surged through the galleries, a hearty, spontaneous, irrepressible Australian cheer. It was not down in the programme, but it formed an effective part of it.” ‘A Nation United’ will commemorate and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia at the Royal Exhibition Building. As in 1901, dignitaries from across Australia and throughout the world will be invited to attend this truly historic event. The commemoration ceremony will provide the opportunity for Victoria and Australia to showcase the strengths of our people, art and culture, and of our industry and economy to the world. The combined resources of the Commonwealth Parliament, the Federal Government and the State Government of Victoria will be utilised to ensure that this event will be the major ceremonial celebration for the Centenary of Federation.
Commemorative Federation Sitting of the Commonwealth Parliament (Thursday 10 May)
In the morning of Thursday 10 May the Commonwealth Parliament will assemble at the Victorian Parliament House, Melbourne, where it sat for 27 years beginning in 1901. As in 1901, the House of Representatives will sit in the Legislative Assembly and the Senate will sit in the Legislative Council. This Sitting, under the direct control of the Commonwealth Parliament is seen to be a major focus of the importance of Victoria in the development of the Federal Parliament and indeed the Nation. This will be followed by a Reception at Parliament House hosted by the Presiding Officers of the Victorian State Parliament.
Toyota Family Federation Cup Day (Saturday 12th May)
On Saturday, 10 May 1901 over 50,000 troops participated in a Royal Review at Flemington Racecourse in celebration of the Opening of the First Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. The event was attended by the Duke and Duchess of York and Cornwall. To commemorate this occasion, Eastbourne Communications, in association with Centenary of Federation Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club will stage Family Federation Cup Day on Saturday, 12 May 2001. This event will focus on family participation and people will be encouraged to dress in period costume. The race programme and entertainment will also reflect the era.
Centenary Meeting of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party
In 1901, the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party was formed at a meeting in the basement of Parliament House, Melbourne at 11.00am on 8 May 1901. In conjunction with the State Parliament and the Federal Opposition, a Centenary Meeting will be staged again on 8 May, 2001 at 11.00am in Parliament House, Melbourne.
Victorian Federation Festival
The Uniting Nation, May 2001 The Melbourne Festival, under the Artistic Direction of Jonathan Mills, has been commissioned by the State Government of Victoria to develop and produce a program of cultural events designed to compliment the major activities scheduled to take place during May 2001.
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