Australia Day 2023

Published on 25 January 2023

When I was a young boy, I questioned my parents about why was there a ‘Father’s Day’ and a ‘Mother’s Day’ yet no ‘Children’s Day’?

The stock, universal reply to every kid, from every parent with this question was ‘Every day is Children’s Day!’

When asked about why we have Australia Day on 26 January I give a similar answer…every day is Australia Day! We celebrate that day, but I’d be happy to change it if it upsets some people, and who wouldn’t want that?

But it’s the day we use currently, and that’s kind of ironic because India shares that day too! It’s ironic because we use it as the day the British put up the Union Flag here, and it’s the day they pulled it down in India!

In the 1780’s, there was also lot of international intrigue about an American letter sent to the British about the French.

But for a couple of mishaps, Australia could have become a French colony.

So that instead of saying, ‘I’m Australian, not English!’, we’d say ‘Je suis Australien, pas Français!’

Anyways, I love it here every day. We’re living in the same land as the Earth’s oldest culture, where you get to vote and marry whoever you like and there’s Kookaburras.

I have seen, learned and lived in many other places, there’s nothing wrong with them, but here is better.

I’ve had extensive talks with local Aboriginal elder Aunty Gwenda, who is so gracious, and wants to acknowledge that the past holds good and bad, but it is for us all to create a better and more representative future.

We’ve agreed, in this area, to work on that as a team.

Here’s what’s doing on Australia Day locally:

Welcomes to Country, didge recitals, smoking ceremonies, traditional dancers, a yarning circle, flag flyovers, surf club barbecues, pool parties and a whole pile of other fun!

At our ceremony at Gerringong Town Hall we’re also welcoming 30 new citizens, presenting our local Australia Day citizens awards, while our guest speaker is World Superbike Champion Warwick Knowland. 

So here are the three actual points of what we’re doing and why:

Reflect

Respect

Celebrate

We reflect on our nation’s past, which began more than 75,000 years ago and respect the contributions of all Australians, and we celebrate our achievements by coming together and connecting with family, friends and the community.

And you know what? We really should do this every day.