LE Jason
There's a date in Australian history that for many years has been causing a lot of controversy. On the 26th of January 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip led the First Fleet to Australia, claiming the land for England; even though it had belonged to hundreds of different groups of Indigenous people. Over the years, January 26 became the day for celebrating the landing on New South Wales.
For Indigenous Australians, January 26, 1788 was the date that the land they had been living on for over 50,000 years was invaded and stolen by force by the British. This was the beginning of the mistreatment and discrimination they will face in the years coming..
On 26th January 1938, many Indigenous leaders held what they called a day of mourning to protest against the hundreds of years of terrible treatment by white settlers.
On January 26, 1988, there were big protests held in Sydney. Around then, many people -
particularly Indigenous Australians began calling 'Australia Day' Invasion Day. From that day forward, protests became a yearly occurrence. As a result, there has been plenty of discussion about moving Australia Day to a different day.
However, this interest to change the date has angered many. The idea of tradition is important and valued by Australians. However, tradition does not focus around the date but the customs on said date. Others believe that January 26 is not about the First Fleet anymore, but rather about Australians coming together to celebrate the country as it is now.
This idea includes welcoming new citizens and celebrating the rich diversity Australia excels in.
Writer's Statement
Moving the date of Australia Day celebrations allows for all Australians to come together and rejoice about the good of our nation. The change will allow Indigenous people to be respected whilst breaking down colonial embedded stigmas around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Indigenous people of Australia would prefer to not have the whole country celebrate on the day their land was taken, and it makes sense. Instead of celebrating the day when people first arrived and colonised Australia. We can make it a day about celebrating everyone having equal rights, and being given equal opportunity. For years, it has been a tradition to have Australia day on this day, and if we move it - sure it may lose some of the charms that it has had. But Australia Day should be a day of coming together and uniting in harmony. Not a day of division.
It’s our time to #changethedate