A WIRADJURI leader has welcomed Albury Council's decision to not have formal events on Australia Day, but is in two minds about the lack of consultation before the changes were announced. Ruth Davys was reacting to council general manager Frank Zaknich moving citizenship ceremonies and Albury's awards away from January 26 out of respect for the city's Indigenous community. "I think other councils have already taken this leap and I think our council should very much be following for various reasons," Ms Davys said before citing the city's reconciliation action plan which Mr Zaknich has said "demonstrates that we are one community, where respect and awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture is at the forefront of everything we do". Ms Davys said the plan would lead to more intense conversations and more Aboriginal people speaking up. Council's decision should not be seen as surprising in the context of greater debate about the conflicted legacy of Australia Day, Ms Davys said. "When (Indigenous educator and former NRL player) Joe Williams got citizen of the year in Wagga and he didn't stand up (for the national anthem) that was a way of saying how can we do things better," she said. Ms Davys said "citizenship ceremonies happen four times a year so it's not a big thing, not to have one on Australia Day". "The other thing, about the awards, I've often thought about nominating a person but then thought what if that person does not want to accept that award in that sort of atmosphere and environment on Australia Day," she said. On the matter of the changes not going before a council meeting or being subject to community feedback, Ms Davys was betwixt and between. "People want to feel like they are being heard," she said. "Frank has not allowed people to have a say, I don't know what I feel about that but I think the decision the council has made is good. "If it's an operational issue, they're following their policies but being such a debatable subject Albury Council may have been to open that."