It's time to give Australia a brand new day

But my family does not linger in the past, constantly focussing on history as being the cause of our “lot”. Instead, we are focussed on the possibilities for the future while acknowledging, but not lamenting, the past and celebrating all of the great features, achievements, qualities, and potential of our wonderful Nation. This is what Australia Day represents to us, whether it be 26 January or any other date.

Change the date if the majority so choose. However, changing the date of Australia Day won’t make a difference to how some people see the past. It won’t change the hurt that some choose to feel. Only proactively seeking to change their mindsets about their “lot” will lead to meaningful positive change in their life.

So, perhaps those who want to ruminate on past mistreatment of their ancestors may instead try focussing their thoughts and energy on how to make better their future and that of their descendants.

26 January 1788 represents the start of my ancestors being dispossessed from their native lands, from their family, and from their previously known lifestyle. They had to survive new threats and dangers, and comply with new rules and behaviours imposed on them. They were subject to sickness, famine, and violent treatment from those who now held power over them.

Almost 150 years after the arrival of the British at Sydney Cove, my grandmother gave birth to a son. He was immediately taken from her by the white government as she was “inappropriate” to be a mother. She raised 13 more children in abject poverty, suffering abuse from her alcoholic “husband” and receiving no protection from the white government.

235 years after the arrival of the First Fleet, despite the effects of inter-generational trauma and the trauma and poverty of the most recent generations, I am a descendant who is highly educated, in long-term secure employment, happily married with two wonderful teenage children. I have a great life despite the trauma experienced by my ancestors.

My ancestors were not Aboriginal. One of them was a male convict who arrived with the First Fleet on 26 January 1788, the other was a female convict who arrived with the Second Fleet in 1790.

It was not just the First Nations Peoples who were subject to the negative impacts of British colonisation.

Anyone who thinks changing the date of Australia Day (from 26 Jan) will change anything, is very naive. The Indigenous have demanded so many things (that they have been given) and yet still nothing has changed. The National Anthem has been changed for the Indigenous, they get Naidoc week, Reconciliation Day is a Public Holiday for them, ATSIC public service commission established just for Indigenous, special housing and welfare, special employment program, A National Apology, millions in compensation for stolen generations, land rights and native title, given lots of land, special healthcare programs, Uluru Statement, ongoing millions in funding. It never ends. The government decades ago, should have given the Indigenous people a million dollars each, and made them sign a statement that they have received compensation, and put an end to these ongoing never-ending claims.

Please stop kidding yourself that changing the date will change anything, because it won’t.

26th is Arrival Day of the British Navy. That really just celebrates Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.

What if we created a day that celebrated a united Australia and allowed people to choose whether they took that day off to celebrate, or went with the 26th? It would be really interesting to see how things progressed over time, which day became the bigger celebration.

Almost every country celebrates a violent event such as the taking over of an existing government, occupation and subjugation of those who oppose the takeover. Does that make it smart? Or just conformist? Once a tradition causes harm, it is wise to reconsider its value in current times.

Blindly following past ways will always upset those who were harmed by them historically, causing upset and sometimes anti-government action. So why do we do it? Because we always have. Is that a good reason? Does it help us unite a nation? No. So why not set up a new day that does unite all Australians as Ian suggests?

Really, what would it cost us to set up a day for celebrating a united Australia, one that celebrates all newcomers and all longer term residents, all ages from all backgrounds? Those who want to celebrate 26th January could still do so, but not as a national holiday.

Too many of our national holidays are based in historical events that are only meaningful for a few, so let’s create a new day that we can all celebrate together. We could create an entirely new set of public holidays for things that we celebrate today, things on which we’ve grown and progress.

I have no attachment to the current date of celebration. I think January 1st is the really logical date to have it, ie when we became a country rather than a bunch of colonies. As for changing it, I think its a small but significant gesture towards reconciliation, and is completely painless.

Australia was founded by the British (Europeans). Anyone who doesn’t like that is welcome to stop taking advantage of all our British concepts – they can stop taking welfare, stop taking social housing, not use national healthcare, not use the education system, not have trial by jury legal system, not be found innocent until proven guilty etc. If you want to reject Australia’s British history; then you can start by rejecting all those things. Those who don’t like Australia Day want to take everything British that they can, but just complain about it at the same time. They are such hypocrites…