It was perfect Australia Day weather -about 34oC, so a friend and I took ourselves down to the beach. Australia Day was not traditionally about marching or flag waving – I get nervous around chanting mobs. No, it’s to celebrate what’s great about Australia - sunshine, beaches, being able to go camping in the bush and maybe having a BBQ afterwards, though these days most likely on a gas fired public BBQ or portable propane stove please - there are too many bushfires burning already.
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| Not many people yet - a few dog walkers, ball players, children in the playground |
Those ‘traditions’ are at least 60,000 years old and should be carried forward. Newer ones include announcing public honours for those who have done us proud and to welcome our newest citizens who’ve served their time – minimum 4 years – to all those who claim Citizenship and immigration are to bring in more like – minded voters, and some enlightened councils also present their new Aussies with a native tree to plant.
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| Sorry guys, didn't get your names |
There used to be other activities too - Latrobe, Tasmania, for example still holds a wood chopping contest and a ferret race, and some still marched. Our Indigenous people marched in Sydney to change the date, because they see the arrival of the First Fleet of British convicts -the day Australia celebrates, as Invasion Day. Others staged an anti- Immigration Rally, but despite some loud and angry voices, their numbers were quite small. Most people though just enjoyed a laid back day - with family, with friends, with neighbours, grateful for that last long weekend before the long summer school holidays end.
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