My son mentioned that today is Australia day. He read it on the calendar. He wants to know what Australia day is and what kind of celebrations you have.
He is six. He figures you have lots of delicious treats to eat.
Rachel
Australia Day
by Princess 7 Replies latest jw friends
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Shutterbug
After reading many of the posts on this forum from some of our brethern from Down Under, I'm betting the celeration will include wine in large amounts. Any takers ?? Bug
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Princess
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Rachel
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kelpie
From the earliest white settlement at the end of the 18th century, Australians have striven to celebrate a national day, and in so doing, define what it means to be Australian. January 26 has traditionally marked the landing of Captain Arthur Phillip at Port Jackson in present-day Sydney, thereby settling Australia for the British Empire. Early settlers marked the anniversary. Australia Day has evolved from a small commemorative New South Wales holiday into a major national celebration. Though it has often been criticised, it remains the most inclusive celebration of a national day in Australia, expressing the national diversity which has become such an important part of the Australian national character. 'Inclusiveness' is a problematic term, as many Indigenous Australians feel alienated from the concept of 26 January being a 'celebration'.
Please follow this link for a more detailed explanation.
http://www.australiaday.com.au/education.html
I'm betting the celeration will include wine in large amounts.
Definately a lot of beer and nibbles, and you can't forget the BBQ. (barbieque)
Kelps
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A Paduan
Prawns - prawns please.
For anglosaxons it marks the day they landed on the beach as a group - indeed many return to the beach that same day. Indigenous people consider it to be Invasion Day - a difficult thing to deny - but we managed - there is a term in our law called 'terranullis' or something. In effect it means there was no one here occupying the land (even though we didn't just shoot the thin air) - it's like 'old light' and it's best for us to just not mention that now - if we can forget it our new light (lives) will just get brighter and brighter - indigenous people were still being run off the nicer land when I was a child, and our law still says there was no one there - I wonder though why we needed trucks to do the job.
I love this place. But as for the state, and the English law - I went to work.
And, as this is a jw info site - on Australia Day, no one in this whole street partied as much as they did over at the jw house - as normally is the case on 'worldly' holidays.
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Prisca
Interesting the lack of replies here - shows how unpatriotic we Aussies are!
Here's some more info and links for you Rachel:
Australia Day
For many Indigenous Australians, however, 26 January is not a day of celebration but one of mourning and protest. For indigenous Australians, the founding of the modern Australian nation led to the disruption of their traditional way of life, to death, disease and dispossession.
In 1988, the year of the bicentenary of European settlement, Aboriginals marked the year with a massive march for 'Freedom, Justice and Hope', named it a Year of Mourning, but also celebrated their survival.
In 1999 the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, an Aboriginal sacred site, and now part of the National Estate, was the focus of indigenous activity on Australia Day with a Corroboree for Aboriginal Sovereignty.
Today, Australia has come a long way, we now have an advanced Reconciliation movement, in an attempt to heal some of the pain of Australia's past. This has included events such as the People's Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on 28 May 2000.
Australia Day has a long history . According to the Australia Day Council formal dinners and informal celebrations began to mark the day soon after European settlement. The first official celebrations were held in 1818 for the 30th anniversary of European settlement and during this early period 26 January was called Foundation Day. It wasn't until 1994 that all states and territories celebrated Australia Day on the actual day for the first time.
http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/1999/01/australia.htm
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ozziepost
G'day Rachel,
Seems to me that Australia Day is one of those events so easily overlooked. There's been much debate over the years about its significance. For many the most significant national day of celebration is Anzac Day.
Some mark Australia Day, but most overlook it...except for the day's holiday, taht is. In this respect, the Dubs are no different to the general community in taking advanrtage of "a day off" without spending time or effort in marking it in any way.
Mrs Ozzie and I had forgotten it was Australia Day this week, and we had only just appeared out of the jungle (literally), when we were presented with special cards to mark Australia Day....under special seal too!....and this in a place that has had no sympathy in the past with Austrlia's aspirations. It was very sobering and humbling to receieve the "awards" with much seriousness.
Perhaps it shows that others think more of it than the Aussies do. Perhaps it also reveals much about the casual approach of those ockers!!
Cheers, Ozzie
Edited by - ozziepost on 28 January 2003 9:43:42
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Princess
Thank you for your replies. Interesting reading. I'll have to spend some time going through the links Prisca. Welcome back Ozzie and Mrs Ozzie, we missed you.
Rachel