During a very heated debate among council staff, it was voted and agreed 6 to 3 in favour of cancelling all festivities on 26 January, promising rather to fly both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander flags at half mast instead to show solidarity and respect.
For the traditional owners of this land, the 26th January signifies a day of sadness.
Australia’s national day, the 26th of January is celebrated in recognition of the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. But for Indigenous Australians the day the First Fleet raised the Union Jack at Sydney Cove is known as Invasion Day.
Our native Aboriginal Australians had occupied the land we now know as Australia for more than 60,000 years, way before Captain Arthur Phillip commanded eleven convict ships that sailed into Sydney Harbour and claimed the land. In fact, it was eight years prior to this trip, Captain James Cook raised the British flag on Possession Island in the Torres Strait in North Queensland, effectively claiming the eastern half of Australia for Great Britain. Captain Phillips trip sealed the deal in 1788.
Councillor Paul Barker opposed the change saying that it didn’t represent the majority of Surf Coast residents.
Paul Barker “If we keep forcing change on the community, without bringing them along, it will cause more division”.
Councillor Heather Wellington is in full support of changing the date as requested by our indigenous Australians, however this is a change that must be made at federal level, not council.
Last year Australia Day was marked with Invasion Day rallies that rivaled official Australia Day events. Melbourne’s 2018 Invasion Day Rally attracted an estimated 30,000 attendees with other cities attracting big crowds from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
I guess it is anyones guess how Australia Day will be celebrated in 2022 if this pandemic continues to hold everyone hostage.
