On 2nd thoughts, the Australia Day Committee needs a boost so sent this to Elizabeth ( Kelly . PM office).
Dear Elizabeth , ma'am

" An amended Commission, dated 25 April 1787,..as above..

No doubt New Zealand will be invited to share the day with a loyal toast even if Western Australia and Alice Springs are excluded. We're sorry about the bushfires and keep our lawns mowed as obedient tenants.

Any chance that one of the Family could look over their property next week ? It's sad that Tennis has come to such a condition, it's the republicans in Russia but the Romanovs are hopeful.

your servant.

X

Australia Day is more appropriate than 1st January 1901 as that later
date is just a rearrangement of political deck chairs.

Australia Day is also more significant for aboriginals.
On that day they were jerked into the 18th century from wherever they
were previously. It was a dawning of a new reality which had to happen
no matter what. It was not perfect of course but nothing ever is.

It was the start by a small group of men & women to build a nation
even if only a few realised it at that time.
They brought with them a tradition of law and rights which many of
them thought had been denied to themselves.
It left the people in the 19th century more determined to establish
a better society than they had left.

Do not deny to those earliest arrivals the acclaim for the efforts
they made over the following two centuries.

Dear Bazz,

Nobody should be denied any achievements to which they
have contributed - that
have made this nation great. Whether its been building
the Snowy Mountains Scheme, the Sydney Opera House,
roads, cutting sugar canes, building hsopitals,
and other things too numerous to mention. Including
serving in wars, past and present, governments,
raising the standard of education, and the list goes on.

We are a great country - and we should celebrate not only
all of our achievements, but we should re-commit to making
it even better for us all in the future!
With a new Prime Minister who has vision - it should not be
difficult if we're all on the same page.

Bazz
Indonesians knew Australia existed and traded with the people. So did Papua. Men came from the furthest side of the planet to fight with France about pirates' rights. Land theft is not legal. Strangely , this event is not remembered with pride :
" Construction on Darlinghurst Gaol wall began in 1822 and finished in 1824 using convict labour, but due to a lack of funds, the site sat empty for 12 years. "

I agree with O Sung Wu, Australia day for me is one of regret and Anzac Day is the same. Our pioneers and diggers would turn in their graves if they could see this country now.

We have so little good farmimg land and we have been busy covering that with concrete, bitumen and houses. Now farming is forced on to more marginal country that is prone to crop failure and erosion.

Man made disasters like the last Brisbane floods where most of the flooded homes were built below the 1974 flood level. Council approved this subdivisions and encouraged the building. How many young couples lost in a big way because of this 'error' by council but no one admitted fault.

The last lot of submarines were a complete disaster, by Beasley.

Each year hundreds of homes are destroyed by fire because of greenies influence on councils and poor town planning. It will continue.

In the last few years our Labor government allowed 50000 illegal immigrants to get residence with most remaining on welfare forever. They could not see the obvious and even 1200 drowning did not change their ideology and stupidity.

There are many issues and these are just a few that come to mind. One could be excused for thinking the politicians set out deliberately to stuff the place. I am thankful we do not have 'Merkels million muslims' yet but Turnbul will get his 12000 here, so look out girls. Turnbull was once going to save the world from global warming by changing our light bulbs, so he has form.

Not much to look forward too I am afraid, yep afraid for our grandkids. As they say 'poor fella my country'.

Dear Banjo,

I'm so sorry that you feel that way.

It is a dismal picture and I certainly hope that
you're wrong. We've had warnings in the past and
nothing bad came from them. Somehow our country
has managed not only to survive, but prosper.
Hopefully this will continue into the future, especially
if we have the right policies to implement. I have faith
in our new Prime Minister. He seems like a man who will
do the right thing by us all. He has a pretty good,
and intelligent team and with consultation - things
can only improve. Anyway, prior to the next election we
should learn more detail about their policies and then
be able to judge for ourselves.

I'm betting on us doing well. We have a good track record.