It was Australia Day this week! On the official Australia Day web page you can find a lot of information about this special day for Australians, like:
On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian. It’s the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It’s the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future.
Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.
My friend Simone had an Australia Day party 1970's style at her home in Geelong, near Melbourne, and asked her friends and family what it means to be Australian and what Australia Day means to them.
Vox Pop from our 2012 Australia Day party!
Question 1) What does it mean to be Australian?
• To be Australian is to have
opportunity and freedom. Australians are friendly and always up for a
chat. I love Australia’s landscape of wide, open spaces and gum trees.
• Sharing and caring. All cultures
must learn to live together in Australia as it is very multicultural.
The freedom of speech is pretty cool but the best part is the ability to
be a BOGAN! (A bogan is someone who is a bit of a dag, a bit uncool but
at the same time cool because they are doing what they want without
being embarrassed!)
• Being free to be who you are. Making your own choices. Accepting others and being friendly.
• As an Australian we have access to
many possibilities, opportunities and lifestyle choices that other
people are not as fortunate to have. We have privileges of space,
rights, choice and wealth to develop communities and support of people
who believe in dreams.
• To have the freedom to ‘bad mouth’
our government without consequences. To have whatever lifestyle choice
we want without persecution, to demand better living conditions for
people of other countries, but in the same breath expressing our
concerns with illegal immigrants. We are one, but we are many…
Question 2) What does Australia Day mean to you?
• Australia Day is sunshine, barbeques
(bbqs) and too many drinks. It is meeting new people and reminds me of
the great country we live in.
• Being free!
• A day off to share with the people you care about, talking shit and drinking. Sunburn and freedom.
• To catch up with family and friends, have a bbq, drinks and just being Aussie, oy oy oy!
• A day with those you know and may not…Many beers and laughs…Straya Day. The best day of the year.
• A day where we should all enjoy doing the things we love—our booze, fishing and music.
Here are some more pictures from Melbourne:
Australia Day in Images
Simone also sent me a couple of links to The Sydney Morning Herald:
Published also here.
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