Australia Day, The Day we All Became Australians (not Invasion Day)
Craig1 said
05:39 PM Aug 5, 2020
a
Captain Cook did not arrive in Australia on the 26th of January.
The Landing of Captain Cook in Botany Bay happened on the 28th of April 1770 not on the 26th of January 1770.
The First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay on the 24th of January 1788.
The 26th January was chosen as Australia Day for a significant different reason which is explained below - however, Captain Cooks landing is included in Australia Day celebrations as a reminder of a that historical event which later lead to the First Fleet arrival.
Since the extravagant bicentenary celebrations of 1988, when Sydney-siders decided Captain Cooks landing should become the focus of the Australia Day commemoration, the importance of this date for all Australians has begun to fade.
Now, a generation later, its all but lost.
This is because our politicians and educators have not been doing a good job promoting and advertising the real reason for Australia Day, and our educators have not been teaching our children the importance of the 26th of January to all Australians.
The media, as usual, is happy to twist the truth for the sake of creating controversy.
In recent years, the media has helped fan the flames of discontent among the Aboriginal community. Many are now so offended by what they see as a celebration of the beginning of the darkest days of Aboriginal history, they want the date changed.
Various local Councils are seeking to remove themselves from Australia Day celebrations, even refusing to participate in citizenship ceremonies, and calls are going out to have Australia Day on a different day.
Why has the Government allowed this misconception to continue?
Captain Cook didnt land on the 26th of January. So changing the date of any celebration of Captain Cooks landing would not have any impact on Australia Day, but maybe it would clear the way for the truth about Australia Day.
The reality is, the Aborigines in this country suffered terribly under the hands of British colonialism. This is as much Australias history as the landing of the first fleet, and both should be remembered, equally. Both should be taught, side by side, in our schools.
Australians of today should be opposed to what was done under British governance to the Aborigines. And we know what was done under British governance to the Irish and other cultures around the world.
After the horrors of WWII we decided to become our own people Australians.
On the 26th of January 1949, the Australian nationality came into existence when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 was enacted. That was the day we were first called Australians and allowed to travel with Passports as Australians.
Under the Nationality Act 1920 (Cth), all Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders born after January 1, 1921 gained the status of British subjects. In 1949 on the 26 January, therefore, they automatically became Australian citizens under the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948.
Before that special date of 26 January, all people living in Australia, including Aborigines born after 1921, were called British Subjects and forced to travel on British Passports and fight in British wars.
We all became Australians on the same day!
This is why we celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January!
This was the day Australians became free to make our own decisions about how our citizens would be treated. It was the day Aborigines were declared Australians.
Until this date, Aborigines were not protected by law. For the first time since Cooks landing, this new Act gave Aboriginal Australians by inference and precedent the full protection of Australian law.
Because of this Act, the government became free to help Aborigines, and since that day much has been done to assist Aboriginal Australians, including saying sorry for the previous atrocities done before this law came into being.
This was a great day for all Australians!
This is why the 26th of January is the day new Australians receive their citizenship. It is a day which celebrates the implementation of the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948 the Act which gave freedom and protection to the first Australians and gives all Australians, old and new, the right to live under the protection of Australian Law, united as one nation.
Now, isnt that cause for celebration?
There is a great need for education on the real reason we celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January. This reason needs to be advertised and taught in schools. We all need to remember this one very special day in Australias history, when freedom came to all Australians. What was achieved that day is something for which all Australians can be proud!
We need to remember both the good and the bad in our history, but the emphasis must be the freedom and unity all Australians now have, because of what was done on the 26th of January 1949, to allow all of us to live without fear in a land of peace.
Isnt it time all Australians were taught the real reason we celebrate Australia Day?
Greystone said
05:56 PM Aug 5, 2020
So true!
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:09 PM Aug 5, 2020
Before that special date of 26 January, all people living in Australia, including Aborigines born after 1921, were called British Subjects and forced to travel on British Passports and fight in British wars. We all became Australians on the same day! This is why we celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January! This was the day Australians became free to make our own decisions about how our citizens would be treated. It was the day Aborigines were declared Australians.
Well, not exactly....
Aboriginal peoples in this country did not have any voting rights until 1962 and not until 1965 in Queensland.
Then of course they did not exist in the census until 1971. That is 50 years after your "magic" date in 1921.
Cheers,
Peter
Brownie 64 said
07:34 PM Aug 5, 2020
G`day Craig,
There seems to be a some conjecture as to when the First Fleet arrived, I believe they started arriving on the 20/1/1788 & by the 24/1/1788 the entire fleet had arrived at Botany Bay.
My 5th Great Grandfather was a convict on the convict ship the Scarborough & was chosen as part of the landing party boat crew
and they went ashore on the 26/1/1788
And the rest is history as we know it and this date should always remain known as AUSTRALIA DAY
Craig1 said
08:04 PM Aug 5, 2020
I did the most" fact checks "I could find prior to the post, but as always here and a good thing too, someone will find a query. Long live " I digress"
dogbox said
08:45 PM Aug 5, 2020
the british could have a lot to answer for. the irish ,scotts, welsh, indians(both asian and north american), africans aboriginal, kiwis and lot of others who they mixed with in their travels and how it affected their lives
Very interesting - thanks. You have given me some more research to do here.
Cheers - Ian
dorian said
08:37 AM Aug 6, 2020
There will never be reconciliation with the indigenous peoples of this country until the old bigots and racists are long gone.
To me the problem has some easy and painless solutions. Move Australia Day to January 01, 1901, the date of federation, and replace the Union Jack with aboriginal insignia. And of course it goes without saying that this country should become a republic.
DMaxer said
09:06 AM Aug 6, 2020
I imagine that the aboriginal insignia to which you refer is the yellow, red and black one. This is privately owned and subject to copyright.
How much do you think the taxpayers should pay for this to appease the whinging masses who like to claim aboriginality?
-- Edited by DMaxer on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:07:03 AM
dorian said
09:10 AM Aug 6, 2020
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
Rob Driver said
09:21 AM Aug 6, 2020
dorian wrote:
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
Craig1 said
09:31 AM Aug 6, 2020
Look at all the Republics of the world and then look at us. No contest. Peace and mostly harmony within our borders. Republics either cut off your head, have mass slaughter in whole continents, breed dictators, or ignore Corona Virus in one large chunk of the world.
Grandad5 said
09:36 AM Aug 6, 2020
Where did this assumption come from that 26th Jan was anything to do with Captain Cook?
I know my memory is fading but I was taught back in school that the date was the day that Governer Phillip raised the British flag declaring Australia a British colony. And a picture of that raising is prominate every Australia Day since.
I totally agree that the date of the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948 being enacted is also a very important point, and much more appropriate, but since to the bulk of Australians (I believe) associate the day to be a remembrance of the earlier event, is it now too late to try to change the significance of why the date was chosen?
History is never rewritten once it has been successfully taught for a long period of time, regardless of what new information comes to hand.
Who discovered Australia? Captain Cook! No, there were several others before him.
Who discovered North America? Christopher Columbus! Except the Vikings were there a couple of hundred years earlier.
I personally can't see much success likely in now trying to change the original significance of the date. I personally can't see any alternative other than changing the date. Regardless of how appropriate the date may be as has been described here.
Jim
the rocket said
09:39 AM Aug 6, 2020
bentaxlebabe wrote:
dorian wrote:
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
Hi angie, can you tell us what EXTRA benefits that the select group receive? And what select group are you referring to?
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:43 AM Aug 6, 2020
Time this was locked. It is never going to change the set views.
Cheers,
Peter
Rob Driver said
09:57 AM Aug 6, 2020
the rocket wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
dorian wrote:
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
Hi angie, can you tell us what EXTRA benefits that the select group receive? And what select group are you referring to?
The list is large but one very simple one is that in many regional towns our indigenous folk have children picked up by taxis before school taken to a venue and given breakfast and then transported to school. A similar thing happens in reverse at the end of each day.
We had a guy employed by us whose female partner ran one of these centres and just prior to the end of a financial year she was called upon to spend the money which was not used but had been allocated to the centre. Both her and her staff went to the local KMart and spent the money of well over $1000.00 on toys which were then given to the children.
This taxi and breakfast service, toys and other government financed benefits are not available to non indigenous folk.
It should be noted that non indigenous folk arent selected for employment in these areas, so lets just reverse the situation and listen to the cries of racist, discriminatory etc etc
I will repeat, We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:58:22 AM
Mike Harding said
09:59 AM Aug 6, 2020
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Time this was locked. It is never going to change the set views.
It may or it may not, one never knows.
After listening to debate I changed my view about the "Sorry" issue which Kevin Rudd delivered.
Be they set or not I enjoy reading the views of others and they often make me reconsider my own views and that has to be a good thing.
Don't be so eager to close down debate, far too much of that going on currently.
Rob Driver said
10:09 AM Aug 6, 2020
Back to Dorians views.
Many of the English settlers were originally sent here as convicts. Very few had money. We have all had 250 years to make things better for us all and that on the whole has happened. There are indigenous and non indigenous that have failed. Anyone who does fail gets a hand up but to enjoy the advantages of being Australian in this modern day we must be prepared to help ourselves. Changing flags, changing dates of celebrations changing our the way we administer government wont change a thing....well at least not for the better.
The decisions made around many things in Aus favour indigenous. A simple example was the BLM rallies that were permit Ed to go in in major cities but we had to cancel ANZAC DAY. Anzac Day is about Australians and Kiwis. BLM movement is about somethings that have been happening half a world away.
Dorian you are not helping with any reconciliation while you have your attitude.
We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:19:19 AM
Rob Driver said
10:11 AM Aug 6, 2020
Mike Harding wrote:
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
Time this was locked. It is never going to change the set views.
It may or it may not, one never knows.
After listening to debate I changed my view about the "Sorry" issue which Kevin Rudd delivered.
Be they set or not I enjoy reading the views of others and they often make me reconsider my own views and that has to be a good thing.
Don't be so eager to close down debate, far too much of that going on currently.
Well said Mike Harding sensible debate can be quite productive and at the least informing.
Regards
Angie
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:24 AM Aug 6, 2020
First you say....
bentaxlebabe wrote:
Well said Mike Harding sensible debate can be quite productive and at the least informing.
Then you get personal.
Dorian you are not helping with any reconciliation while you have your attitude.
That is not "sensible debate".
Cheers,
Peter
dorian said
10:26 AM Aug 6, 2020
bentaxlebabe wrote:
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
I'm so tired of this old argument. Nobody lays down their life for a flag. They fight for their country, irrespective of whatever flag is flown.
And don't for one minute think that I don't respect the armed services and the sacrifices that they have made. In fact I resent your implication. In my opinion, there is never enough that any country can do for them, and I have said so elsewhere in this forum. In fact they will get a share of my estate.
As for bludging on the taxpayer, I agree that this is all too prevalent, and that many programs targeted at indigenous peoples are pointless and wasteful. But what does that have to do with Australia Day? If you're fixated on cost, then ask yourself how much would it cost to move Australia Day to a mutually acceptable date, and change the flag to better reflect the nation as it is today? Howard vacillated for a decade, but Rudd delivered an apology as soon as he got into office. What did that cost the country? My aboriginal friend tells me that Rudd's apology was extremely well received and did a great deal of good.
the rocket said
10:40 AM Aug 6, 2020
bentaxlebabe wrote:
the rocket wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
dorian wrote:
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
Hi angie, can you tell us what EXTRA benefits that the select group receive? And what select group are you referring to?
The list is large but one very simple one is that in many regional towns our indigenous folk have children picked up by taxis before school taken to a venue and given breakfast and then transported to school. A similar thing happens in reverse at the end of each day.
We had a guy employed by us whose female partner ran one of these centres and just prior to the end of a financial year she was called upon to spend the money which was not used but had been allocated to the centre. Both her and her staff went to the local KMart and spent the money of well over $1000.00 on toys which were then given to the children.
This taxi and breakfast service, toys and other government financed benefits are not available to non indigenous folk.
It should be noted that non indigenous folk arent selected for employment in these areas, so lets just reverse the situation and listen to the cries of racist, discriminatory etc etc
I will repeat, We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:58:22 AM
hi angie, so you are saying there are only programs in australia, for children who are indigenous that get picked up, fed and dropped off daily. Surely there are programs similar for non indigenous children. Thinking of children that go to special schools, do some get picked up and dropped off. I dont know. Does anyone know on here? What about child care centres picking up and dropping off. What about money for kids playing sport? Quite honestly if thats what it takes to educate children, then im all for it.
dogbox said
10:45 AM Aug 6, 2020
does the flag not represent the country
i'm no history buff . but what day would be suitable to have australia day. as the 26 of january seems to offend some even though it is not the day cpt cook landed in australia in 1770
Brownie 64 said
10:55 AM Aug 6, 2020
Dayrl620 you got it 100% right, this is why we celebrate Australia Day on the date that it is!
As for you Dorian, Your just a smart arsed antagonist, people with ideals about changing the date of Australia day, changing the flag & going republic dont deserve to call themselves Australian, you are repulsive!
Youve made an enemy in me!
Rob Driver said
11:15 AM Aug 6, 2020
Peter_n_Margaret wrote:
First you say....
bentaxlebabe wrote:
Well said Mike Harding sensible debate can be quite productive and at the least informing.
Then you get personal.
Dorian you are not helping with any reconciliation while you have your attitude.
That is not "sensible debate".
Cheers,
Peter
Well it appears that it is when it is the other way.
Regards
Angie
Rob Driver said
11:16 AM Aug 6, 2020
the rocket wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
the rocket wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
dorian wrote:
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
Hi angie, can you tell us what EXTRA benefits that the select group receive? And what select group are you referring to?
The list is large but one very simple one is that in many regional towns our indigenous folk have children picked up by taxis before school taken to a venue and given breakfast and then transported to school. A similar thing happens in reverse at the end of each day.
We had a guy employed by us whose female partner ran one of these centres and just prior to the end of a financial year she was called upon to spend the money which was not used but had been allocated to the centre. Both her and her staff went to the local KMart and spent the money of well over $1000.00 on toys which were then given to the children.
This taxi and breakfast service, toys and other government financed benefits are not available to non indigenous folk.
It should be noted that non indigenous folk arent selected for employment in these areas, so lets just reverse the situation and listen to the cries of racist, discriminatory etc etc
I will repeat, We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:58:22 AM
hi angie, so you are saying there are only programs in australia, for children who are indigenous that get picked up, fed and dropped off daily. Surely there are programs similar for non indigenous children. Thinking of children that go to special schools, do some get picked up and dropped off. I dont know. Does anyone know on here? What about child care centres picking up and dropping off. What about money for kids playing sport? Quite honestly if thats what it takes to educate children, then im all for it.
Hi Rocket,
You asked me for an example and I gave you one.
Try dropping off a non indigenous child into the situation I quoted above.
When children are being cared for in what we may refer to as the open market then there is no discrimination in the system between indigenous and non indigenous, but, and a big but, if there were, there would be hell to pay.
You and some others miss my point, We Are All Australians.
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:25:01 AM
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:26:21 AM
Peter_n_Margaret said
11:43 AM Aug 6, 2020
After the end of the wars, Germany was required (and agreed) to pay reparations to those countries and peoples that were damaged by their actions.
They are still paying.
Are there any here that believe that it would have been OK for Germany to simply say "Sorry, we will stop doing those bad things and go home now"?
There are also those who seem to think that all of this Aboriginal persecution (including land theft, discrimination, exploitation, and genocide) happened a long time ago and is all forgotten about, or should be forgotten about.
Well we live near what was a home in Adelaide for Aboriginal children that were forcibly removed from their families. Most of these kids came form the far north of SA, hundreds of km away. www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/colebrook.htm
This home was not closed until 1972.
Most of us know what happened to many kids in homes like this and many of those kids are still about (and many are still younger than most on this forum), except those who were so badly affected that they finished up in jail or committed suicide.
We are all Australians? We are certainly not EQUAL Australians.
Cheers,
Peter
dogbox said
11:46 AM Aug 6, 2020
Brownie 64 wrote:
Dayrl620 you got it 100% right, this is why we celebrate Australia Day on the date that it is!
As for you Dorian, Your just a smart arsed antagonist, people with ideals about changing the date of Australia day, changing the flag & going republic dont deserve to call themselves Australian, you are repulsive!
Youve made an enemy in me!
why because he has a different opinion to yours?
if we all thought the same wouldn't life be like a flock of sheep all moving along same speed eating same grass
the rocket said
11:53 AM Aug 6, 2020
bentaxlebabe wrote:
the rocket wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
the rocket wrote:
bentaxlebabe wrote:
dorian wrote:
It would be easy to commission a royalty free insignia.
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
Hi angie, can you tell us what EXTRA benefits that the select group receive? And what select group are you referring to?
The list is large but one very simple one is that in many regional towns our indigenous folk have children picked up by taxis before school taken to a venue and given breakfast and then transported to school. A similar thing happens in reverse at the end of each day.
We had a guy employed by us whose female partner ran one of these centres and just prior to the end of a financial year she was called upon to spend the money which was not used but had been allocated to the centre. Both her and her staff went to the local KMart and spent the money of well over $1000.00 on toys which were then given to the children.
This taxi and breakfast service, toys and other government financed benefits are not available to non indigenous folk.
It should be noted that non indigenous folk arent selected for employment in these areas, so lets just reverse the situation and listen to the cries of racist, discriminatory etc etc
I will repeat, We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:58:22 AM
hi angie, so you are saying there are only programs in australia, for children who are indigenous that get picked up, fed and dropped off daily. Surely there are programs similar for non indigenous children. Thinking of children that go to special schools, do some get picked up and dropped off. I dont know. Does anyone know on here? What about child care centres picking up and dropping off. What about money for kids playing sport? Quite honestly if thats what it takes to educate children, then im all for it.
Hi Rocket,
You asked me for an example and I gave you one.
Try dropping off a non indigenous child into the situation I quoted above.
When children are being cared for in what we may refer to as the open market then there is no discrimination in the system between indigenous and non indigenous, but, and a big but, if there were, there would be hell to pay.
You and some others miss my point, We Are All Australians.
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:25:01 AM
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:26:21 AM
Yes we are and different people and groups get different things depending on their needs. Ie. subsidised childcare, subsidised housing, cheaper courses, subsidised rail, bus, ferry, to and from hospital transport subsidies, taxi subsidies, electricity discounts, rates discounts, rego. Discounts, chemist discounts, rent subsidies, sporting subsidies, and the list goes on. you may be missing my point, they are not the only ones getting things needed from the government. we pay taxes for all in australia to benefit, Be it schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and even helping those that need help to access education And food. If the government deems it necessary, then its necessary. i for one want to see aboriginal people educated and uplifted.
a
Captain Cook did not arrive in Australia on the 26th of January.
The Landing of Captain Cook in Botany Bay happened on the 28th of April 1770 not on the 26th of January 1770.
The First Fleet arrived in Botany Bay on the 24th of January 1788.
The 26th January was chosen as Australia Day for a significant different reason which is explained below - however, Captain Cooks landing is included in Australia Day celebrations as a reminder of a that historical event which later lead to the First Fleet arrival.
Since the extravagant bicentenary celebrations of 1988, when Sydney-siders decided Captain Cooks landing should become the focus of the Australia Day commemoration, the importance of this date for all Australians has begun to fade.
Now, a generation later, its all but lost.
This is because our politicians and educators have not been doing a good job promoting and advertising the real reason for Australia Day, and our educators have not been teaching our children the importance of the 26th of January to all Australians.
The media, as usual, is happy to twist the truth for the sake of creating controversy.
In recent years, the media has helped fan the flames of discontent among the Aboriginal community. Many are now so offended by what they see as a celebration of the beginning of the darkest days of Aboriginal history, they want the date changed.
Various local Councils are seeking to remove themselves from Australia Day celebrations, even refusing to participate in citizenship ceremonies, and calls are going out to have Australia Day on a different day.
Why has the Government allowed this misconception to continue?
Captain Cook didnt land on the 26th of January. So changing the date of any celebration of Captain Cooks landing would not have any impact on Australia Day, but maybe it would clear the way for the truth about Australia Day.
The reality is, the Aborigines in this country suffered terribly under the hands of British colonialism. This is as much Australias history as the landing of the first fleet, and both should be remembered, equally. Both should be taught, side by side, in our schools.
Australians of today should be opposed to what was done under British governance to the Aborigines. And we know what was done under British governance to the Irish and other cultures around the world.
After the horrors of WWII we decided to become our own people Australians.
On the 26th of January 1949, the Australian nationality came into existence when the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 was enacted. That was the day we were first called Australians and allowed to travel with Passports as Australians.
Under the Nationality Act 1920 (Cth), all Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders born after January 1, 1921 gained the status of British subjects. In 1949 on the 26 January, therefore, they automatically became Australian citizens under the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948.
Before that special date of 26 January, all people living in Australia, including Aborigines born after 1921, were called British Subjects and forced to travel on British Passports and fight in British wars.
We all became Australians on the same day!
This is why we celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January!
This was the day Australians became free to make our own decisions about how our citizens would be treated. It was the day Aborigines were declared Australians.
Until this date, Aborigines were not protected by law. For the first time since Cooks landing, this new Act gave Aboriginal Australians by inference and precedent the full protection of Australian law.
Because of this Act, the government became free to help Aborigines, and since that day much has been done to assist Aboriginal Australians, including saying sorry for the previous atrocities done before this law came into being.
This was a great day for all Australians!
This is why the 26th of January is the day new Australians receive their citizenship. It is a day which celebrates the implementation of the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948 the Act which gave freedom and protection to the first Australians and gives all Australians, old and new, the right to live under the protection of Australian Law, united as one nation.
Now, isnt that cause for celebration?
There is a great need for education on the real reason we celebrate Australia Day on the 26th of January. This reason needs to be advertised and taught in schools. We all need to remember this one very special day in Australias history, when freedom came to all Australians. What was achieved that day is something for which all Australians can be proud!
We need to remember both the good and the bad in our history, but the emphasis must be the freedom and unity all Australians now have, because of what was done on the 26th of January 1949, to allow all of us to live without fear in a land of peace.
Isnt it time all Australians were taught the real reason we celebrate Australia Day?
Well, not exactly....
Aboriginal peoples in this country did not have any voting rights until 1962 and not until 1965 in Queensland.
Then of course they did not exist in the census until 1971. That is 50 years after your "magic" date in 1921.
Cheers,
Peter
There seems to be a some conjecture as to when the First Fleet arrived, I believe they started arriving on the 20/1/1788 & by the 24/1/1788 the entire fleet had arrived at Botany Bay.
My 5th Great Grandfather was a convict on the convict ship the Scarborough & was chosen as part of the landing party boat crew
and they went ashore on the 26/1/1788
And the rest is history as we know it and this date should always remain known as AUSTRALIA DAY
Rather than do alot of typing refer......
https://www.australiaday.org.au/about-australia-day/history/
Cheers - Ian
To me the problem has some easy and painless solutions. Move Australia Day to January 01, 1901, the date of federation, and replace the Union Jack with aboriginal insignia. And of course it goes without saying that this country should become a republic.
I imagine that the aboriginal insignia to which you refer is the yellow, red and black one. This is privately owned and subject to copyright.
How much do you think the taxpayers should pay for this to appease the whinging masses who like to claim aboriginality?
-- Edited by DMaxer on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:07:03 AM
I take offence to your comments Dorian.
Some of my family have died defending our flag and our country.
Note I said the word OUR.
My thoughts are strong in this area and in my observation it is people with views like yourself are actually the problem and not, as you may think, the solution.
Concilliation works both ways and not all one way.....you leave our flag alone and explain to those who may think that they are hard done by in this country to stop getting tax payers Centrelink support and all the other EXTRA benefits that the select group receives.
In this country we are all Australians. Stop this continual attempt to divide us.
Regards
Angie
I know my memory is fading but I was taught back in school that the date was the day that Governer Phillip raised the British flag declaring Australia a British colony. And a picture of that raising is prominate every Australia Day since.
I totally agree that the date of the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 1948 being enacted is also a very important point, and much more appropriate, but since to the bulk of Australians (I believe) associate the day to be a remembrance of the earlier event, is it now too late to try to change the significance of why the date was chosen?
History is never rewritten once it has been successfully taught for a long period of time, regardless of what new information comes to hand.
Who discovered Australia? Captain Cook! No, there were several others before him.
Who discovered North America? Christopher Columbus! Except the Vikings were there a couple of hundred years earlier.
I personally can't see much success likely in now trying to change the original significance of the date. I personally can't see any alternative other than changing the date. Regardless of how appropriate the date may be as has been described here.
Jim
Hi angie, can you tell us what EXTRA benefits that the select group receive? And what select group are you referring to?
Cheers,
Peter
The list is large but one very simple one is that in many regional towns our indigenous folk have children picked up by taxis before school taken to a venue and given breakfast and then transported to school. A similar thing happens in reverse at the end of each day.
We had a guy employed by us whose female partner ran one of these centres and just prior to the end of a financial year she was called upon to spend the money which was not used but had been allocated to the centre. Both her and her staff went to the local KMart and spent the money of well over $1000.00 on toys which were then given to the children.
This taxi and breakfast service, toys and other government financed benefits are not available to non indigenous folk.
It should be noted that non indigenous folk arent selected for employment in these areas, so lets just reverse the situation and listen to the cries of racist, discriminatory etc etc
I will repeat, We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 09:58:22 AM
It may or it may not, one never knows.
After listening to debate I changed my view about the "Sorry" issue which Kevin Rudd delivered.
Be they set or not I enjoy reading the views of others and they often make me reconsider my own views and that has to be a good thing.
Don't be so eager to close down debate, far too much of that going on currently.
Back to Dorians views.
Many of the English settlers were originally sent here as convicts. Very few had money. We have all had 250 years to make things better for us all and that on the whole has happened.
There are indigenous and non indigenous that have failed.
Anyone who does fail gets a hand up but to enjoy the advantages of being Australian in this modern day we must be prepared to help ourselves.
Changing flags, changing dates of celebrations changing our the way we administer government wont change a thing....well at least not for the better.
The decisions made around many things in Aus favour indigenous. A simple example was the BLM rallies that were permit Ed to go in in major cities but we had to cancel ANZAC DAY. Anzac Day is about Australians and Kiwis. BLM movement is about somethings that have been happening half a world away.
Dorian you are not helping with any reconciliation while you have your attitude.
We are all Australians
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:19:19 AM
Well said Mike Harding sensible debate can be quite productive and at the least informing.
Regards
Angie
Then you get personal.
That is not "sensible debate".
Cheers,
Peter
I'm so tired of this old argument. Nobody lays down their life for a flag. They fight for their country, irrespective of whatever flag is flown.
And don't for one minute think that I don't respect the armed services and the sacrifices that they have made. In fact I resent your implication. In my opinion, there is never enough that any country can do for them, and I have said so elsewhere in this forum. In fact they will get a share of my estate.
As for bludging on the taxpayer, I agree that this is all too prevalent, and that many programs targeted at indigenous peoples are pointless and wasteful. But what does that have to do with Australia Day? If you're fixated on cost, then ask yourself how much would it cost to move Australia Day to a mutually acceptable date, and change the flag to better reflect the nation as it is today? Howard vacillated for a decade, but Rudd delivered an apology as soon as he got into office. What did that cost the country? My aboriginal friend tells me that Rudd's apology was extremely well received and did a great deal of good.
hi angie, so you are saying there are only programs in australia, for children who are indigenous that get picked up, fed and dropped off daily. Surely there are programs similar for non indigenous children. Thinking of children that go to special schools, do some get picked up and dropped off. I dont know. Does anyone know on here? What about child care centres picking up and dropping off. What about money for kids playing sport? Quite honestly if thats what it takes to educate children, then im all for it.
i'm no history buff . but what day would be suitable to have australia day. as the 26 of january seems to offend some even though it is not the day cpt cook landed in australia in 1770
As for you Dorian, Your just a smart arsed antagonist, people with ideals about changing the date of Australia day, changing the flag & going republic dont deserve to call themselves Australian, you are repulsive!
Youve made an enemy in me!
Well it appears that it is when it is the other way.
Regards
Angie
Hi Rocket,
You asked me for an example and I gave you one.
Try dropping off a non indigenous child into the situation I quoted above.
When children are being cared for in what we may refer to as the open market then there is no discrimination in the system between indigenous and non indigenous, but, and a big but, if there were, there would be hell to pay.
You and some others miss my point, We Are All Australians.
Regards
Angie
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:25:01 AM
-- Edited by bentaxlebabe on Thursday 6th of August 2020 11:26:21 AM
They are still paying.
Are there any here that believe that it would have been OK for Germany to simply say "Sorry, we will stop doing those bad things and go home now"?
There are also those who seem to think that all of this Aboriginal persecution (including land theft, discrimination, exploitation, and genocide) happened a long time ago and is all forgotten about, or should be forgotten about.
Well we live near what was a home in Adelaide for Aboriginal children that were forcibly removed from their families. Most of these kids came form the far north of SA, hundreds of km away. www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/colebrook.htm
This home was not closed until 1972.
Most of us know what happened to many kids in homes like this and many of those kids are still about (and many are still younger than most on this forum), except those who were so badly affected that they finished up in jail or committed suicide.
We are all Australians? We are certainly not EQUAL Australians.
Cheers,
Peter
why because he has a different opinion to yours?
if we all thought the same wouldn't life be like a flock of sheep all moving along same speed eating same grass
Yes we are and different people and groups get different things depending on their needs. Ie. subsidised childcare, subsidised housing, cheaper courses, subsidised rail, bus, ferry, to and from hospital transport subsidies, taxi subsidies, electricity discounts, rates discounts, rego. Discounts, chemist discounts, rent subsidies, sporting subsidies, and the list goes on. you may be missing my point, they are not the only ones getting things needed from the government. we pay taxes for all in australia to benefit, Be it schools, hospitals, infrastructure, and even helping those that need help to access education And food. If the government deems it necessary, then its necessary. i for one want to see aboriginal people educated and uplifted.