Let’s be frank, Australia Day is really a flagrant display of gross national pride. The meaty BBQ’s that had nothing but overly mayo coated salads for this vego girl. The great Aussie pavlova that’s debatably of New Zealand origin. The eskies of beers on the beach. The sweaty men in just shorts and thongs, yelling vulgar comments. The flags and the inevitable drunken fights that always happen somewhere or everywhere. It all seems boastful and hollow and tasteless to me. I’m not a fan. I have always been uneasy with the trappings of Australiana.
Back when I worked a 9 to 5 job, Australia Day was just a public holiday with Triple J’s Hottest 100 on the radio. I avoided the parties, the BBQ’s and the beach, for the aforementioned reasons. Australia Day as blogger is always vexing to me. Every year when Australia Day rolls round, I am torn about posting. I stick to non-offensive baked goods like lamingtons and cutesy items like my iced vovo tote. But not this year…
In my youth, I had the absolute pleasure of working with a number of Aboriginal groups. Emboldened by youth, I asked many questions. I was trying to be sensitive and understanding but in my enthusiasm, I am sure I was somewhat inappropriate. But I must have had some charm because I was rewarded with answers and stories. I learned so much. We even spoke openly about adoption. Forced adoption was common for Aboriginal people, aka the stolen generation, but my friend was shocked to learn that forced adoption had happened in my family too. We had shared hurts and shared experiences and it was so nice to have that brutally honest communication. And that kind of communication is what we need right now, as a Nation.
The white colonisation of North America is much like our own, except they had free settlers and we were a penal colony. When I think about this issue, I am always reminded of the songs I grew up with from Native American folk singer Buffy St Marie. I recommend listening to the lyrics of the song, ‘My Country ‘Tis of Thy People You’re Dying’ but here is an excerpt;
Now that the pride of the sires receives charity,
Now that we’re harmless and safe behind laws,
Now that my life’s to be known as your heritage,
Now that even the graves have been robbed,
Now that our own chosen way is a novelty
Hands on our hearts we salute you your victory,
Choke on your blue white and scarlet hypocrisy
Now no one is asking that you apologise for your ancestors or any of that weird shit. Just asking that you recognise the original landowners and stop celebrating our victory on the day that we forced our people and culture on them. It’s very straight forward. I’m all for changing the date and also for renaming the 26 January as Invasion Day. I mean the term invasion day is so technically correct, let’s not whitewash it into something else. Keep it as a public holiday and wave an Aboriginal flag instead. I think I could really get behind celebrating that! We can celebrate Australia Day on any other freaking day! We need to get this together!
So on the 26 January I’ll be at home, not listening to the Hottest 100 on the radio because the ABC has respectfully moved it to 27 January based on popular opinion. And I will be drinking a Sparkke Change ‘Change the Date’ Pilsner! Sparkke change are awesome! They have cans of beer, lemonade, fizzy wine, ginger ale etc for a cause. Not sponsored, just think they are fabulous. I hope that this post has provided some food for thought and perhaps changed your Australia Day vibes. I know this post could be viewed as controversial, thoughts are welcome but anything hateful will be removed.
2 Comments
Don’t agree for variety of reasons, but you’ve developed a case,( albeit subjective at beginning), for change.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think these sort of issues are subjective, experience informs opinion. I wanted to tell a story and paint a picture of my perspective. I’m interested in why you disagree and you are welcome to respectfully share it.