Today (26 January) was Australia Day
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340019)
Rockingham, Australia
January 26, 2021 2:54am CST
Today was Australia Day and commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Botany Bay in New South Wales in 1788. The Union Jack was raised and Australia was claimed by Britain. There is now quite some controversy over the name with the aborigines calling it ‘Invasion Day’. I’m sure there will be some changes to the name and/or date before too many more years have passed.
However, this morning our local shire council held a brunch for the community. It was all free. There was a good crowd in attendance. There was a good choice of food with vegan and vegetarian options available too. You could have rolls filled with bacon and egg, or sausage and onion. Small tubs of muesli were available; also yoghurt; and small tubs of mixed fruit. Various juices, tea and coffee were also on offer.
Entertainment consisted of a guitar and keyboard duo. I think there might have been a dance display before we arrived at 10am. The keyboard player was especially good. At 11am, seven people took the oath to become Australian citizens and there were awards for volunteers of the year: Junior, Senior, Other (for want of a better word) and Organisation.
The photo shows the fruit and drink tents behind the stage. You might be able to pick out the guitarist on stage. People queued for their meal out of sight to the left of the photo. There were bouncy castles for the kids and a display of vintage cars. The shades that had been put up were very welcome by the crowd as the sun was quite hot. All in all, it was a very pleasant way to spend an Australia Day morning.
21 people like this
21 responses
But no, we don't have lockdown here.
@snowy22315 (180725)
• United States
26 Jan 21
Wow, those Brits wanted to colonize everywhere it seems. Of course people from the US got fed up with their taxes. I was watching an old English movie once where they referfed to the U.S, as the colonies. I thought that was very amusing.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jan 21
Australians were called 'colonials' and looked down on for many years. Old habits die hard. And old school atlases show the British Empire in red and half the world seems to be red. But times change and what was once great becomes less so.
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
26 Jan 21
A huge celebration - although I do wonder if the name will change as welL!!!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jan 21
@DocAndersen Forgive me for being so ignorant but I don't really understand what 'confederate' means. Is it those that agreed with slavery?
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54402)
• United States
26 Jan 21
@JudyEv as you know the US has been going through that a lot lately. I am happy to say that we have removed so many confederate memorials in the US in the last 2 years. 10 roads around us have been renamed already!
2 people like this
@allknowing (136446)
• India
26 Jan 21
For India it is Republic Day
And Botany bay seems an odd name!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jan 21
Yes, we share a day of commemoration. It was called Stingray Bay first, then Botanists' Bay and finally Botany Bay. There were a few botanists on board the first ships and they were blown away with the diversity of flora in the area.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68020)
• United States
26 Jan 21
We have a similar problem with “Columbus Day” here. The day that used to celebrate Christopher Columbus discovering America is now more like “European descendants shame day.”
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@wolfgirl569 (106298)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Jan 21
We have the same here. The native indians were invaded.
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@JESSY3236 (19949)
• United States
26 Jan 21
Happy Australia Day!! I saw it was Australia Day on Bing.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
27 Jan 21
what a lovely way to spend the morn. food, drinks, music, places to play 'n visit. seems a most peaceful gatherin' there, which's like a breath 'f fresh air. brilliant the keyboard player 'twas so good.
any ideas what they might change the name to? "invasion day" 'tis sadly 'n horrifically what many native peoples 're fightin' 'gainst. we all hope fer unity, focusin' 'pon common grounds, compromisin' the rest. aint like we can erase the history 'f our ancestors, eh? nor give back all the lands. no 'mount 'f funds can heal the wounds which run so deep'n their cultures.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
28 Jan 21
@JudyEv i shall keep fingers crossed such 'tis so. why put one more scab to all the pain which 'lready 'xists?
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@Dena91 (16636)
• United States
27 Jan 21
Happy Australia Day. I actually know this is your day as normally the Australian Open is happening on my birthday and this is a few days afterwards. The commentators and Australian players talk about it and what it means to your country. I miss it not being played, though it will be hopefully in a few more days.
I'm glad you got to go and celebrate
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
27 Jan 21
Happy Australia Day. Sounds great...good food & drink all free with entertainment, fantastic.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
28 Jan 21
@JudyEv
Glad you & yours enjoyed it.
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