The Preamble to the Australian Constitution begins with “Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and under the Constitution hereby established.” However, it had not always spoken of the desire for God’s blessing, until Patrick “Paddy” Glynn offered to amend the preamble to include this phrase. This amendment passed on March 2, 1898, despite the protests and jeers of many.
