Editing Advance Australia Fair (section)

==Other unofficial variants==
In 2011, about fifty different Christian schools from different denominations came under criticism for singing an unofficial version of the song written by the Sri Lankan immigrant Ruth Ponniah in 1988. The song replaced the official second verse of "Advance Australia Fair" with lyrics that were Christian in nature.<ref name="fire">
{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-23/christian-schools-changing-the-national-anthem/2939594|title=Schools under fire for 'Christian' national anthem|work=ABC News|access-date=17 July 2017|date=23 September 2011}}</ref>

{{poemquote|With Christ our head and cornerstone, we'll build our nation's might
Whose way and truth and light alone, can guide our path aright
Our lives a sacrifice of love, reflect our master's care
With faces turned to heav'n above, Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains then let us sing, Advance Australia Fair.}}

[[Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth]] [[Peter Garrett]] and chief executive of the [[National Australia Day Council]] Warren Pearson admonished the schools for modifying the lyrics of the anthem, and the Australian Parents Council and the Federation of Parents and Citizens' Association of NSW called for a ban on the modified song. [[Stephen O'Doherty]], chief executive of Christian Schools Australia, defended the use of the lyrics in response.<ref name="fire" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/god-save-us-from-a-religious-chord/news-story/270f38a1abe51b7a203873258aefa121|title=Christian schools re-write Australian national anthem|work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|location=Sydney|access-date=17 July 2017|date=2 October 2011}}</ref>