National Anthem - Did you Realise there was a slight change a few years ago - I just picked it up

So the question arises, how did our National Anthem change just a few years ago and some people still get it a little wrong

So historically, 'God Save The Queen' was used when the British monarch was visiting Australia as a Royal Anthem.

'Advance Australia Fair National Anthem was composed by Scottish-born Composer Peter Dodds McCormick in November 1878 and was adopted as Australia's National Anthem on 9th April 1974. in 1976, God Save The Queen was re-instated as Australia's National Anthem. 

In 1977 the Australian Electoral Office conducted another poll, which again found ‘Advance Australia Fair’ was the preferred anthem (43.6 per cent), followed by ‘Waltzing Matilda (28.45 percent).

In 1981 the National Australia Day Council recommended the Australian National Anthem consist of verses one and two of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ with some modification.

On 19 April 1984 the then Governor-General, the Rt Hon Sir Ninian M Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE, proclaimed the Australian National Anthem to the tune of ‘Advance Australia Fair’ and the verses drafted by the National Australia Day Council. At the same time, ‘God Save The Queen’ was first proclaimed as the Royal Anthem.

From 1 January 2021, the words of the second line of the Australian National Anthem were amended from ‘For we are young and free’ to ‘For we are one and free’, by Proclamation made by the Governor General, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), on the Government’s advice.

So, why change 'Young and free' to 'One and free' - The Scott Morrison Government recommended the change to Governor David Hurley and it was announced on 1st January 2021. Prime Minister Scott Morrison makes the announcement of the minor change that will help foster a ‘spirit of unity’.

I actually thought that we are not a young country any more!

Did you notice the change?

Click here for the lyrics to The National Anthem