That is not true throughout English speaking world. I recently attended a graduation of one of my sons at Cambridge University. The graduations there are still conducted in Latin which is arcane for most of those who attend. For all of you graduation has academic, emotional and professional dimensions. Academically it marks the formal recognition by your university that you have satisfied its requirements and are now part of its distinguished alumini.
All responses are human and understandable.
Graduation, whilst an end in academic terms is really but a beginning in life terms. It gives you a good stepping stone, a solid foundation for the real work on which you have already embarked and on the career path along which I hope each of you will successfully progress. But much more than a degree is needed for success. Hard work, determination, tenacity and above all belief in what you are doing and the moral fibre to do it with integrity are needed. The Australian ethos has been forged under the fiery Australian sun.