The Constitution Travelling Show

How do you visualise your retirement? One Canberra couple have sought to combine their dream of seeing the country with something a little different.

John and Marg Christensen have been on the road, travelling around Australia over the last 8 years talking to various groups about how we came to have a Federal Constitution. So far about 150 talks have been given. [1]

Since 2016 they have visited most States where John has spoken to Rotary and Probus clubs, Mens Sheds, schools, libraries, churches and in some private homes.

In giving the talks, John draws on his legal background (he is now retired) but sees himself primarily as an explainer and storyteller. The intention is to present a serious subject in an entertaining way. The talks are called ‘Hats off to our Federal Constitution’ and John makes frequent use of hats as props in his presentations. Talks are followed by a Q&A, when people ask very good questions.

John is very conscious that hearing the word ‘constitution’ is liable to induce severe eye-glazing! He jokes that sometimes people say they would love to hear about the Constitution but have been looking forward to a dental appointment!

The back of the Christensens’ motorhome bears the slogan ‘A cup of tea and a slice of Constitution’. In the same way that a movie might announce that no animals were harmed in its making, the Christensens like to think that no-one will be hurt attending a presentation.

‘Sometimes when someone comes up to me after a presentation’, John recalls, ‘I can tell they were surprised to find it interesting! I enjoy giving the presentations — perhaps a long repressed theatrical side of me — maybe this rubs off a bit’.

In the talks, John identifies the forces at play in the movement to federation, some of the personalities involved and the hurdles that had to be overcome. He emphasises that federation was never inevitable.

It seems that most of the people who attend the talks — while perhaps running their own business, holding down a responsible job, looking after a family, or perhaps all of these — have not had any education about the Constitution at school or training about it through their workplace. For this reason, and the fact that each talk is a ‘one-off’ before the Christensens move on to another place, printed handouts are distributed to provide a starting point for further reading, as well as links to a number of websites.

At the end of most talks John touches on his dream for what he calls the ‘relocation’ of the Constitution back to Australia. He explains that although Australians negotiated and drafted their own constitution, they agreed in 1900 that it should be given legal effect as part of an Act of the British Parliament — where it still sits to this day. While his talks do not go into the detail, he proposes that the relocated Constitution would effectively be the same Constitution, with the same operation and effect. In an Australian document the Constitution would:

* Have an unambiguous Australian source

* Be made more coherent by providing for the preamble to the Constitution Act to become the preamble to the Constitution and for relevant ‘covering clauses’ to be incorporated in the Constitution

* Be simplified by incorporating the surviving provisions of the Statute of Westminster and the Australia Act, thereby reducing three constitutional instruments to one.

The very process of relocating the Constitution would raise its profile within the wider Australian community; a community markedly different to that of 125 years ago.

‘It has been such a wonderful experience being able to engage with people where they live,’ says Marg. ‘On some occasions a talk has led to an invitation. In one country town, for example, we were told that there was to be a singalong at the library that night. Of course we went along and had a great time. The musicians were quite marvelous. At another place we were invited out to a farm when the shearing was on. The scones and billy tea were fabulous!’

‘We are so impressed with what we have seen people doing in some very remote, rural places. In one wheat-belt town, for example, the local librarian also runs a farm. And everywhere, the energy and dedication of teachers has been inspiring.’

John also emphasises that neither he nor Marg represent or belong to any political party or political movement. He sees what he is doing as a kind of hobby, albeit a rather unusual one! John and Marg state that they are self-funded, and that no charge is made for the talks or the handouts.

To read more about the proposal to relocate the Constitution or to contact John, go to ozhomenow.au.

[1] Details of places visited so far may be found on their website.