Do we need to change the date for Australia Day?
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January 26 has been the day set aside to celebrate our nation, welcome new citizens and publicly recognise our communities’ brightest achievers.
It’s when many gather around barbecues, head to the beach, or enjoy some cold refreshments in preparation for a long weekend.
However, the motivation behind the day has evolved over time and there are loud and growing calls for the date to be changed, or the day scrapped altogether.
That Australia Day falls on the anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival and the raising of the British flag for the first time is where contention lies.
Some may argue that the day signifies the beginning of what was to become modern Australia, with its eclectic blend of people from all countries and cultures.
Others would rightly say that day in 1788 also marked the beginning of a concerted effort to displace and in many cases kill off, the traditional first peoples of this land.
Australia Day as a nationally recognised occasion is really only a relatively recent thing – the term has only been in widespread use since 1935, and the national public holiday only since 1994.
More recent years have seen the growing voice of Indigenous Australians and supporters making a push to end “Invasion Day” or “Survival Day”.
That Australia Day is intrinsically linked to the displacement felt by generations of Indigenous Australians cannot be ignored.
However, it’s a long bow to draw to say celebrating Australia Day is akin to celebrating the destruction of Aboriginal people and culture.
We can’t change history (as much as we might like to). But we should be learning from it, determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past and committed to creating an inclusive Australia for all who wish to call this country home.
This annual argument over a single day and its connotations is hurting us, dividing communities when we should be working to forge a better future for all.
Australia Day is about celebrating what it means to be Australian – living in a free, democratic country bathed in glorious sunshine, pristine beaches, incredible scenery and wildlife, and a melting pot of cultures from across the world building a modern society the envy of many.
Can we not do that on a different day?