Introduction: Australia Day. For most Aussies it is a day off work, a reason to whip out the Barbie and have a few too many beers on the beach. It’s a day where communities across the nation come together in celebration, watch the glorious fireworks, and play a few rounds of backyard cricket on the blistering asphalt. But for many Indigenous Australians, January 26 does not represent this supposed ‘Australian Dream,’ but rather the recollection of a nightmare. Australia Day to them marks the beginning of a harrowing 229 years of slaughtering, criminalisation, and torture of thousands of their people. It is a day where after 60,000 years of occupation, a people of music, art, dance, and politics was destroyed. Their rights were extinguished as none of it mattered: as if an entire civilisation weren’t ‘there’ according to British Law, Terra nullius. An empty land. A land ripe for the taking. How have we allowed this to happen? The insensitivity of our nation towards this issue has driven our renowned morals into the dirt. For the sake of our country’s future we need to change the date of Australia Day to a more inclusive one. Not only does January 26 commemorate the Invasion Day for Indigenous Australians, but there are numerous approved dates where Australia Day can be held instead, as its purpose is to celebrate the unity of all Australians and praise living in such a great country, one we all proudly call home. Argument 1: It celebrates Invasion Day for Indigenous
After 10 long years Torres Strait Islander Eddie ‘Koiki’ Mabo has lead indigenous Australians to a victory over the Queensland government. This win this case is a historical moment, as of yesterday, the indigenous Australians have been recognised as the owners of Murray Island. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are known to have resided in Australia, 40,000 to 60,000 years before the British arrived in 1788. When the British took over they decided to take all the land for themselves even though the indigenous Australians were here first. This court case recognises indigenous Australians unique connection to the land and acknowledges that they have the rights to the land.
The Australian public now commemorate the sacrifice made for them by having ANZAC day every year. Today we commemorate the sacrifice by tending to their graves on foreign shores there are prayers said and wreaths laid on ANZAC day when we remember their sacrifice. There are walks across ANZAC cove with memorial scattered throughout. Though we commemorate Gallipoli more than the western front this is unjust to the 10’s of thousands of men who died on the western front as some of Australia’s most respected battles were fought on the western front
In recent years, the issue of Australia Day marking the ‘invasion’ of ‘white man’ has sparked controversy between the Indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Australia. In his article titled “January 26th is the birth of modern Australia – deal with it”, Peter Moore advocates that the date of Australia Day should not be changed and he provides humour and solidarity for those who share his perspective. He does this through heavy use of attacks and generalisations with an informal, aggressive tone. Conversely, Natalie Cromb, with her article titled ‘Australia Day/ Invasion Day debate: #ChangeTheDate – but not right now”, criticizes the idea of the date changing at present time as she attempts to rally supportive readers to stand up to the
The most significant experiences that impacted Australian Indigenous people was the discrimination on a daily basis and the affect that fighting in World War 1 (1914-1918) had on them. World War 1, often referred to as the Great War, stands as one of the most climactic moments in history. Amongst the trenches, battles, and sacrifices — the contributions of the often-overlooked Indigenous Australians are a notable fact as to why the War was a success. The Indigenous Australians in WW1 were a community comprised of around 1,200 people (State Library of QLD). Within the Aboriginal community, their experiences serve as an attestation towards their determination, courage, and resilience in the face of their hardships.
The date of Australia day has been a large community discussion for many Australians. This day is a happy and positive day for many Australians and very important to some people. This is because it brings different people from different cultures that exist in our country together to celebrate the history that Australia has made. On both sides of this argument, if you want Australia Day to change, or stay the same, there is good evidence for this argument. Australia Day should most definitely stay the same for the following reasons.
Aboriginal History, 39, 163–181. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43687040 Tony, S. (2020), ANZAC: the legend’s problem, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-11-11/38318 Yat-sen Li, J. (2023). The Anzac belongs to all of us, not just white Australia.
Celebrating Australia day is like holding a party without inviting the hosts. While many Australians celebrate this holiday, they have little knowledge behind the events that occurred and why it is celebrated. If I’m honest, I haven’t been brought up, like many of my generation, to understand and acknowledge the events which occurred on this day. Instead for as long as I can remember I have seen the day as a public holiday where mum drags us to a boring family gathering, to play backyard cricket and observe the adults consume excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages. According to a poll conducted by Review Partners, much of the Australian population are unable to accurately name the event
This article discusses the speech given by an Indigenous journalist, Stan Grant who participated in a debate where he spoke for the motion “Racism is destroying the Australian Dream’’. Hence, the main points of this article are mostly evidence given by Grant in his debate to support his idea that the Australian Dream is indeed rooted in racism. One of the main points is that the indigenous Australians are often excluded and disregarded as non-Australians simply due to their race and skin colour. Grant pointed out the incident where AFL player Adam Goodes was publicly jeered and told that he did not belong to his country as he was not an Australian despite the fact that Australia indeed is the land of his ancestors.
As the government overlooks the aboriginals and local residents, this documentary is created in order to shed light to the
Australia has been labelled as the country of mateship, fair-go and tolerance, but the mistreatment of Asylum seekers in Australia denies these values. In our anthem we sing “For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share”. It ironic isn’t it? As when Asylum seekers arrive in Australia we do not offer a hand of mateship instead we use punitive matters such as sending them to mandatory detention, which shows how xenophobia is manifested in Australia (Ariyawansa,
Deadly Unna by Phillip Gwynne explores racial issues directed at the Indigenous Australians. Gwynne’s story is based on events that occurred in the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. This book clearly shows that Australia is not the land of the fair go for certain demographics, while other demographics do experience Australia as the land of the fair go. People who have money will experience Australia as the land of the fair go, but the people who do not will not be able to experience Australia as a land of equal opportunity. Indigenous Australians are also included in the demographic of people who cannot experience Australia as the land of the fair go.
The Gallipoli campaign had supplied for the first time a self named identity seen by many. 100 years later after the cease fire on November 11, 1918, we as a proud nation commemorate the ANZAC character every year on the 25th of April. We see that in source 12 that not only our own nation commemorates the ANZAC spirit but others also recognise the ANZAC 's. The photograph shows the Queen and the Royal Family with Prime Minister Menzies showing tribute to the ANZAC troops on the 50th Anniversary. (1923 poem by Joan Torrance source 10) this source shows the excessive emotions of dignity, and heightened awareness of fanaticism in Australia.
Where have you ever seen or heard of a monument for this day? Is there a special plark where the first fleet landed? Is there a statue to commemorate this date? No, then what's the point of celebrating this date if we don’t even preserve it? People may say this is a day that is only about Australia and that is why it should continue to be this date, but I'm sorry to burst those people's bubbles.
Abstract Being an aborigine in a white dominated society is a complicated identity. Australia, one of the white governed nations, also owns many aboriginal tribes. They lived harmonious lives in the early period. But European colonization has made a profound effect on the lives of Aboriginals in Australia, which led to the total demolition of their native culture, identity and history. As a result the new generation Aboriginals have lost their Aboriginal heritage and have been accepted neither by Aboriginals nor by whites.
Like every Anzac Day, the area around Gallipoli experiences a heavy battering from the masses of tourists making their pilgrimage to pay their respects to their ancestors. Development of the area has always been controversial, but as more and more people visit, it 's most likely inevitable. The Anzac precinct is securely protected, but the adjacent areas are under slacker rules, leaving them vulnerable to the building of constructions to support the ever-growing mass of tourists. Some of these have been seen to the construction of car parks, roads, and buildings such as memorials, hotels, restaurants, and a museum; some of which have disturbed the soil where thousands were killed and were either buried in mass graves or left where they fell.