Inaugural celebrations a success.
By Anthony Barich
Over 500 people gathered from around Australia to stand up for the institution of marriage at the inaugural National Marriage Day Breakfast at the Great Hall of Parliament House on August 13.
The National Marriage Coalition, formed initially by the Australian Family Association, the Fatherhood Foundation and the Australian Christian Lobby, mobilised a campaign leading up to the passing of the Marriage Amendment Act in 2004, and National Marriage Day marked its anniversary.
Over 10,000 petitions were presented at the breakfast for tabling in the federal parliament in support of a National Marriage Day.
The turnout was larger than expected, which AFA national vice-president Mary-Louise Fowler said reflected the fact that Australians see marriage as something worth standing up for.
She said National Marriage Day had been “inaugurated by popular appeal”, whether the government gives it an “official seal” or not.
“It’s a movement of the people. We need to own it,” she said, or the government may eventually include other forms of marriage into the agenda.
RISE (restoring integrity and sexual ethics), a youth movement that recognises the need for change and challenges modern standards on sexual integrity by promoting life-giving love, was also launched on the day.
RISE held its inaugural conference at Parliament House last weekend, hosting Dave Sloan, a reformed drug addict who founded, among other things, Singles Serving Orphans in the US. He spoke on the “mystery of desire” and the “innate longing for family”.
The movement seeks to bring about change by restoring the true meaning of love; empower all people to uphold the inherent dignity of each person; and challenge society to defend the wellbeing of all people and all families for the benefit of society itself.
Former Attorney General, Major-General Michael Jeffery, who with his wife Marlena was announced as National Marriage Day 2009 ambassadors, called for better relationship preparation in schools.
Major-General Jeffery said the institution of marriage needed more public encouragement.
“Isn’t it interesting that we train people to drive cars and build bridges but we don’t train young people for the biggest challenge of all,” he said. “I’d like to see more relationship preparation for young people in schools.” After almost 43 years of marriage, Major-General Jeffery said he often wondered how he and his wife managed. “We had four children under five at one stage and it was a very busy time in our life, but we always worked as a very close team and shared the load where possible,” he said.
Queensland-born Dr James Bogle, a prominent barrister, author, historian and pro-marriage activist in the United Kingdom, also addressed the National Marriage Day Breakfast.
“Volumes of research demonstrate beyond doubt the positive contribution that intact, stable marriages make to the wellbeing of children and society,” the AFA website says.
“Marriage is the key. Australia needs to invest in it now if it is to deliver the best opportunities for its children in the future.”