Did you know that if federation had not occurred, the Premiers of the different colonies on the Australian continent, would like the New Zealand Premier had simply changed their titles from Premier to Prime Minister and some years later, like the New Zealanders, changed the name of the governor in each colony to Governor General, thus their would have been six New Zealand like countries on the Australian continent.

But, thankfully Australia became a single nation on January 1st 1901. http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/explore/federation/nation/index.aspx

Does anyone have any suggestions on how we as a Nation can start celebrating the real Australia Day on January 1st?

Wow, deja vu.

Any suggestions?. Referendum?.

The most appropriate way to celebrate is to have yearly dawn services in every Aussie city and town on the day, during which we apologise to the aboriginal people for invading their Land, then for the rest of the day we all reach out our hands towards the aboriginal people with friendship, understanding and love.

There is no better or more appropriate way to celebrate the day.

Transki, you are a genius.

Dawn Services could be held on January 1st to commemorate the sacrifice of Indigenous Australians in the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Most cities have botanical gardens or
parks.

Why not invite all the various communities
that make up the population of any given city
throughout the country - to
take part in a Festival of Song, Dance, Food,
and Culture, in a designated park or botanical
garden.

The different cultures, costumes, et cetera
would bring the communities together in a
spirit of solidarity and would enable young
and old to see and enjoy the diversity that
makes up this nation of ours. The Indigenous
People would of course be invited to take part.

Stalls could be set up - each community responsible
for their own - and the day would end up being
a celebration of what makes Australia great!

cont'd ...

A Dawn Service - I doubt would attract
that many people - due to everyone having
celebrated New Year's Eve the night before.

However, what about ending the day with
fire-works?

How can we hold a Dawn Service.

There are no Monuments to the death and suffering of Indigenous Australians to which we can lay wreaths?

Incredible isn't it.

Dear Sense,

If you were to google -

"Monuments to Aborigines in Australia,"

or words to that effect - you'd find quite
a few websites that list monuments throughout the
country - including all states and territories.

The following is just one link:

http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/culture/indigenous

Foxy,

Thanks for that, I did have a look at that Web Site.
I may be wrong, but to my knowledge all of those monuments seem to be small.

But, are there any at the very least the size of the Sydney Cenotaph?

http://www.ww1cemeteries.com/othercemeteries/cenotaphsydney.htm

I know of one really big monument to the aboriginal people. Our continent.

Dear Sense,

You ask, are there any war memorials
for the Indigenous People of Australia
the size of the Sydney Cenotaph?

Probably not. However as you know a war
memorial can be an entire building or just
a simple plaque or even the form of a statue
in a park, or an inscription on a rock.
I agree with your concern that
Indigenous People have been neglected in so
many ways in this country - I mean they didn't
even have the right to vote until the 1960s.
However, little by little things are changing.

I googled "Australian Aboriginal War Memorials,"
and came up with this particular website:

http://www.reconciliationsa.org.au/learn%20aboriginalandtorresstraitislanderwarmemorial.html

I also found the following war memorials listed for
Indigenous People:

1) Aboriginal War Memorial Plaque, Canberra, ACT.
2) Aboriginal Memorial Plaque, Launceston, Tas.
3) Aboriginal Memorial, East Victoria Park, WA.
4) Aboriginal Soldier Memorial, Yirrkala, NT.
5) Australian Indigenous War Veterans Memorial, Toomelah, NSW.
6) Gold Coast Aboriginal Anzac Memorial.
7) Indigenous Servicemen Plaque, Moree, NSW.
8) Planned Memorial, Sydney, NSW (Bennelong Point).
9) Rock Inscription, Burleigh Heads, Qld.

And finally this link:

http://nga.gov.au/AboriginalMemorial/home.cfm

The most important thing is, I feel that finally recognition
is being made:

"They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them."

Foxy, I was thinking more along the lines of a memorial to those indigenous Australians who lost their lives and liberty in the founding of this nation

Dear Sense,

I've already given you that information.

It's found in the very first website that
I provided for you on Aboriginal Monuments.
You obviously didn't click onto anything.

If you were to click onto the "Conflict"
index, on the website I gave for
Aboriginal Monuments, and then click onto
"Indigenous," you would find a listing
of all monuments and memorials that have
been erected at the various places where
conflicts took place between the settlers
and the Indigenous People.

Sense, you've shown you're not serious with this. That's "your" problem.

Foxy,

Yes, I'm sorry, thankyou I've looked at that web site again. I thought it was only war related memorials. I assumed that because I sent a link of the war related cenotaph in Sydney. I should have been more thorough and also made my self clearer in the first place. I guess my point is, for example, that we have localised memorials for the different units of soldiers, sailors or airmen around the country who fought in world war two. Simarlily, as we have localised memorials for the different indigenous clans who fought in their struggles.

But, unlike indigenous Australians, our sailors, soldiers and airmen also have national memorials that are representative of all soldiers, all sailors and all airmen. As far as I know there is no national memorial of significance that is representative of all indigenous clans right across Australia, from the torres Strait down, that could reflect their collective struggle as a single people.