Absolutely nothing is free of controversy these days and Australia Day is no exception.
For some years now there have been protests from some members of Indigenous Australia and their supporters who call January 26 “invasion day’’.
Well, it’s a free country and people can do and say what they like, so long it’s not slandering or defaming someone else.
What I would like to point out is that while Australia Day is on January 26 – the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet – we celebrate more, much more, than that single day in our history.
Some people say we should change the date of Australia Day so as not to give offence to some.
But hang on, you just can’t pluck a date out of the air to have a national holiday such as Australia Day.
And it is a fact that on January 26, 1788, a major historic event took place.
And now, almost 230 years later, we celebrate all that is good about our country on this landmark day.
And that surely is the point: every January 26 we give thanks for what we have as a people and a nation.
In a lot of ways our Australia Day is similar to Thanksgiving Day in the United States.
On the fourth Tuesday every November, Americans sit down to a hot meal with family and loved ones, to give thanks for what they have, thus Thanksgiving Day.
Some native American Indians do not think much of Thanksgiving Day, it’s true, but it is held every year nonetheless.
As is Australia Day, and like the Americans we have a lot to be thankful for, maybe more.
Our continent may not be as blessed with as many natural resources as is America, but we have built a very successful country that is headed for greatness.
Part of the reason for that is a day like Australia Day, when we give thanks for what we have but also have a national discussion about who we are.
May Australia Day continue to be celebrated on January 26 for ever more.
Well said, I agree entirely that Australia Day must remain on 26th January as a national celebration of everything we have to be grateful for, living in the best country in which to live.
I have just read “The Oldest Foods on Earth” by John Newton.
I am inspired by the thought he proposes that we have a Thanksgiving Day which shows our gratefulness to First Nations peoples for their care of Country.
Let us walk together.