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To Bradford Banducci, CEO of Woolworths, and the Woolworths Board:

Dear Mr Banducci,

When we go to a supermarket, we go to buy what we need for our family. When we go to a sporting event, we go to watch our teams play. Sadly, we often get anything but. That is why we are sick of politically correct capitalism.

We have endured woke corporations telling us what to say, how to think and what to do for way too long.

We heard you on national television say that you stand by your decision not to stock Australian flag-themed merchandise, which helps people celebrate Australia Day.

So, my wife and I have also made a decision. We will not do our grocery shopping for our family at Woolworths anymore. Please delete us from the Everyday Rewards scheme.

As Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price says in her article called “Woolworths or Wokeworths”:

“Australians don’t want to be preached at and don’t want to be dictated to about politics.

Especially not from a supermarket raking in massive profits.

But that’s what we’ve got with Woolworths deciding to ditch Australia Day merch, claiming it’s got to do with poor sales.

Rubbish.

You and I know that this has been a long-calculated effort by activists to undermine our national day because they hate Australia and want us to be ashamed of it.

If there have been poor sales, it’s because these activists have made it so.”

Lyle Shelton, in an article called “Coles Leads Australia Day Fightback”, puts the challenges of our chequered history well.

“Australians have been collectively at pains to acknowledge the sins of the past, rectify them where possible, but also recognise that while no nation is perfect, the Australian achievement has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Your decision, Mr Banducci, not to stock the merchandise that features the Australian flag is a decision to disrespect the Australian flag. Sadly, this is also disrespectful of our Indigenous people who bled and died in wartime for Australia under that flag.

As my good friend Kurt Mahlburg said in his comprehensive article titled “10 Reasons to Celebrate Australia Day On the 26 January”:

During the First World War, 1,200 Indigenous men served under Australia’s Southern Cross Flag. Another 3,000 Indigenous men fought to defend Australia in the Second World War, many of them now buried on foreign soil. Up to 300 Indigenous soldiers served in Vietnam, with many paying the ultimate price in service for their country.

Abandoning Australia Day means scorning the sacrifice of so many Aboriginal Australians and defaming the nation for which they died. Instead, let us value their sacrifice on our national day.

My good friend, Indigenous Elder James Dargin, recorded a viral video last year calling for love and unity on Australia Day. This year, he created a new video for Australia Day featuring the need to unite around our National Flag.

Watch James Dargin’s video below:

James Dargin mentions the fact that our flag is made up of four crosses, which display the message of love, forgiveness and unity.

The first cross is the cross of St George, who died for his faith as a Martyr in Roman times. England adopted him as his own. St Andrew’s cross represents Scotland, and the St Patrick’s cross represents Ireland. These three crosses together make up the Union Jack.

The fourth cross is the stars that make up the Southern Cross. Each cross in our flag carries a strong message of love and forgiveness because Christ was crucified on a cross to show His unconditional love for us. That’s why Australia’s Constitution, written in 1901, says, “humbly relying on the blessings of almighty God.”

My wife and I were born in Australia. Our Christian mission work and aid relief work have taken us to over 20 countries. We have seen and worked in many other nations, and we believe Australia is one of the greatest countries in the world.

That greatness has its wellspring in the message that these four crosses contain.

We have spent many decades of our life working with Indigenous people. Many times, in the far-flung desert communities or the hot, steamy jungles of Northern Queensland.

We have found our Indigenous friends feel the same way. They love Australia.

We and the majority of Indigenous Australians agree with Jacinta Nampijinpa Price when she says,

“For my part, I am proud to be Australian and proud to celebrate on January 26.

I’ll be doing what many Australians do – acknowledging how lucky we are to be in this prosperous, safe, beautiful country.

But I won’t be getting my BBQ supplies at Woollies.

They’ve made it clear where they stand.

And they’re not on our side.”

Yes, Mr Banducci, you can make your decisions about what you buy and sell, but we can too.

Yours Sincerely,
Warwick & Alison Marsh
Wollongong, NSW

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Photo: Wikimedia Commons