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JULY 2000 marked the centenary of the passage of the Australian Constitution through the British parliament. Australia Week, 2 -9 July 2000, was a programme of activities in London designed to commemorate this historic event, as the Centenary itself will be commemorated throughout Australia in 2001.
In addition to actively promoting Australia's political, trade and investment links with the United Kingdom, the week featured a vigorous programme of Australian cultural activities including music, art and theatre.
100 years of Federation were celebrated with the arrival of no less than four of Australia's former prime ministers and The Hon John Howard MP, the current Prime Minister of Australia.
Malcolm Fraser, Gough Whitlam, Sir John Gorton and Bob Hawke made their first official outing for the Centenary of Federation when they joined other dignitaries to attend the House of Commons, where British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, paid tribute to the Anglo-Australian relationship.
Though events during the week were attended by different members of the party, the one official function the former Prime Ministers all attended was a private black-tie dinner with Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace.
Mr Fraser, an avid republican, defended his decision to attend the dinner, saying he believed it was appropriate for the Queen to be a part of the celebrations.
"I'm very pleased to be involved this week and the fact that the majority of Australians want a republic has nothing to do with it," he said.
"Until Australia makes up its mind [about how it should proceed with a republic] she is still our head of state.
"Even if we had voted for a republic, I would believe that the Queen would be inviting us to the palace."
The week of celebration came to a climax on Friday with a morning service at Westminster Abbey in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
The congregation was a mix of Australian and British people. All had some connection with the partnership of co-operation between the two countries. There were representatives from all walks of life - politics, business, sport, families reunited, friends reacquainted.
All were regaled by sights and sounds melding into one momentous occasion.
Christina Wilson gave a beautiful solo rendition of the song 'I Am Australian', the chorus of which was taken up un-prompted by a small number of the Australian members of the congregation and lent a very eerie atmosphere to