Hi Luciferase,

Yeah, probably. I also don't care much either way. After all, if some other date is picked, there would be interminable arguments about some utterly dreadful deed that was done on that day in 18xx, or even 19zz. An occasion to honour 26 January,1949 is fine with me.

Cheers,

Joe

Possession of NSW was formally declared by Governor Philip on 26th. January. Captain Cook had previously raised the Union Jack and claimed the east coast for Britain.

I think lets keep the date as is.
Big Nana gave us a very good reason for it.
I totally agree that the Government should
advertise and let people know what the date
represents regarding the Citizenship Act -
when we became Australians. That would win
many people over I'm sure.

Just a (minor?) point , according to

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_nationality_law

The 1948 Act bestowed Australian citizenship while NOT withdrawing British subject status. It was not until 1984 that British subject status ceased.

Foxy,
If our schools still taught Australian history, there would be no need for adverts telling people what Australia Day was about.

Not long ago, I asked a very bright high school girl (niece) from Melbourne about the founding of Melbourne and she could not tell me. "We were never taught that stuff" she said. No, nothing about our explorers or the opening up of the country.

It used to be if one did not know the date and who first crossed the Blue Mountains, you failed. But now the students must be aware of and appreciate other cultures.

Dear Lucifrase,

Indeed it was 22 November 1984 when we finally were not deemed British subjects. This to me has more significance than any other citizenship milestone in that it we truly stood as an independent nation, were we could be just Australians, subject to no one else. In fact it might just make a good date for Australia Day.

Dear Foxy,

Especially over the last couple of years I have been exploring the local history of white settlement and while it was not as bloody as the Tasmanian experience within 40 years the large Victorian tribes of the Western districts were all gone. The holocaust which befell them could hardly have been more complete.

Not too far from me is a waterway called Mount Emu Creek. It was originally called Taylor's Creek after after one Fredrick Taylor. In 1839 after a couple of sheep went missing Taylor and a few others went and slaughtered between 30 to 40 of a local tribe pretty well wiping them out.

After the massacre was revealed Taylor fled and the locals, disgusted by what had happened, renamed the creek to what it is now.

Change because of historical events can never go back and repair the past but it does seek to acknowledge what happened. I know most Australians really care more about the holiday than anything else, which is fine because most of us aren't into American style jingoism. But just like with the SSM vote probably most think if is upsetting to a significant group of this continent's first peoples then it is probably a fair thing to do to move the day.

Being laid-back and fair-minded are attitudes we should be celebrating as proud Aussies.

Just just get it done.