It's Australia Day!
January 26, 1788 - Founding of First European Settlement on Australia
Today is Australia Day. What does that mean? I have asked that question to college-aged Aussies visiting and working at Colorado ski resorts during their "summer" break at university. Many of their answers did nothing to dispel the northern hemisphere's misconception that folks from down-under are up-side-down. Several shrugged and had no answer, many said it was "Australian Independence Day", and two proudly proclaimed that Aussie Independence Day is January 1st (which is sort of correct) but added that the holiday was moved to the 26th of January so everyone had a chance to sober-up from New Years before getting knockered again! I bought those two Aussies another pint, if for nothing else their exuberance, and for proving that American students are not the only ones coming up short in history and geography!
Australia Day, celebrated annually on 26 January since 1808, is in fact an official Australian national holiday commemorating the establishment of the first European settlement on the continent of Australia.
Britian in May of 1787, having lost its American colonies to independence, dispatched 11 boats under Capt Arthur Phillip to establish a penal colony near present day Sydney Australia, Capt James Cook had mapped the coast of Australia during his 1770 voyage noting this area. On January 26, 1788 this British flotilla landed in Port Jackson and planted the Union Jack, and then began the first permanent European settlement on Australian soil.
In 1808 the anniversary date was celebrated in honor of the colony surviving 20 years. On the thirtieth anniversary in 1818, Governor Macquarie proclaimed January 26th as a national holiday. More recently on Australia Day, the Australian Prime Minister announces national awards for "Australian of the Year" in several categories and "Australian Local Hero".
This date in Australia has also been known as Anniversary Day or Foundation Day. However, for the Aborigine, the indigenous Australians, this day has been referred to as "Day of Mourning" marked with protests, especially in 1938 during the sesquicentennial (150th anniversary), and "Invasion Day" during the 1988 bicentennial celebration. And most recently with a series of remembrances called "Survival Day" and the "Wogganmagule" ceremony to honor the past and to mark the loss of indigenous culture.
So let's raise a pint to all the folks down-under - G'day and cheers mates!
Quote for ToDay:
"Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead"
- Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) from Betting on the Muse
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