Why Do We Celebrate Australia Day

The concept of the “Australian legend” is an idea that has been altered many times throughout history, however the common conception of this interpretation has remained the same. This perception of a typical Australian legend is of someone who is extremely strong, independent and very capable in a natural outdoor environment such as the bush or outback. Many different sources display this idea and include the same or related characteristics. Russel Ward, author of “The Australian Legend”, focuses on an examination of the development of the "Australian character" and it’s influence on Australian culture. This was very significant in creating and supporting this idea. Crocodile Dundee, a famous Australian movie, references many aspects of what

To many, Australia Day is a day of celebration of the values, freedoms, pastimes and new beginnings of our country. To some, it is a day celebrated at a barbeque with family, friends and alcohol

Ned Kelly was a cold-blooded killer and robber. He stole cattle, generations, money and the pride that we Australians have for our nation. Ned was a disgrace to Australia for his violent acts and his acts of robbery, striking fear into the absolutely terrified hearts of Australia.

Even though many consider Ned Kelly to be a significant national representative of Australian culture and heroism, the evil deeds that Ned Kelly committed during his life were not forgotten on the 27th of June, 1880. His criminal record was mostly overshadowed by his brave, courageous and loyal traits that won him the love of his people

Edward (Ned) Kelly was an infamous Australian bushranger of Irish descent that lived from 1854 to 1880. Black Snake is one of many pieces of literature that has been written based on Ned Kelly’s life. Black Snake is a historical fiction novel based on non – fictional events. Black Snake shows different perspectives on what really happened, so the person could’ve slightly changed the story to back up their point of view. Carole Wilkinson is an award- winning Australian author.

Australia is filled with many different aspects in which makes it the country it is today. I believe it is important to study texts that explore aspects of Australia by studying texts such as ‘The Club’, by David Williamson, a play written in 1977 about an Australian football club and movies such as “The Castle”, directed by Rob Stitch in 1997, about the daily life of an Australian family when their happiness is threatened when developers attempt to buy their house to expand the neighboring airport. Both these texts show us what Australian life was like in the past. By us looking at themes such as language, tradition and the mateship shown we are able to explore different aspects of Australia that make it what it is today.

This man is truly the worst criminal that Australia has ever seen in its entire history. Ned Kelly robbed banks, murdered three men and stole horses and cattle. Ned was part of the Kelly gang. There is no doubt he was the worst of them, he schemed all the villainous plans, he was the one who killed all three policemen and before the gang was even created he stole many farming families horses and cattle. If you don’t think this man is a villain from what I have said so far I don’t know what to say. He shot three men dead with no mercy (pg52), he attempted to derail a police train (pg102) with no care how many men where on that train and he stole hundreds possibly thousands of horses and cattle. (pg1).

With Australia Day associated to celebrating genocide and the destruction of the Aboriginal culture, the government must consider altering the date of Australia Day out of respect for the Aboriginal People and to further assimilation between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians, which in contrast to genocide, is something truly worth celebrating.

A very noteworthy quote in Grant’s speech is easily noticed. He constantly uses repetition to highlight the ideology of “The Australian Dream”, in fact Stan Grant repeats this phrase 11 times throughout his speech. Instead of stating it after speaking of freedom, youth, wealth and joy he instead constantly repeats this expression again and again after describing the oppression, fear of humiliation and hurt of dispossession, injustice suffering and survival. Grant utilises these keywords to draw focus on the lies told by Australians told to themselves everyday. Grant speaks of the Australian anthem and to draw attention on the mockery in many verses of it and appeal to the patriotism of Australian Citizens. He constantly quotes verses from our

Australia day a day that marks a horrific anniversary for Indigenous Australian’s it is commonly known as Invasion day. Invasion day is the day that everything changed no longer were the indigenous people to live in peaceful family groups. Their peace and harmony was to be destroyed by European ideals. Invasion day or Survival day marked the beginning of years of struggle and loss for the indigenous people a battle that they still fight today. Colonization was a cultural wrecking ball when it came to the Australian indigenous and it began on Invasion

The pursuit for a national day has been a part of an effort to define our unique national identity and a day that defines it. Australia Day is a subject of debate, reflecting the fact that national identity is unsolidified and difficult to delineate. In this essay I will outline the argument that Australia’s national day should reflect both its present day society and history, with the help of articles from ‘The Conversation’, ’Modern Australia’s defining moment came long after the First Fleet’ and ‘Australia Day nationalism walks in the footsteps of ugly precedents.’ Australia day should be completely unrelated to British colonialism and its catastrophic impacts on Aboriginal people and their culture and encompass the multicultural society it is today. More significantly however, it should quite simply be a day that has significant historical relevance for present day

On Wednesday, the 26th January, 1938, a "day of mourning and protest" was proclaimed and Jack Patten, who chaired a meeting of the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA), announced, "……. this being the 150th Anniversary of the White man's seizure of our country, [we] hereby make protest against the callous treatment of our people by the white men during the past 150 years, and we appeal to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, we ask for a new policy which will raise our people to full citizen status and equality within the community." This proclamation heralded the intention of the Aboriginal people to unite and protest against Government policies that resulted in Indigenous Australians

Australia has always been centered around diversity and change, specifically with the vast multiculturalism and migrant culture throughout the nation. The specifics of Identity hold an important role in shaping our identity as students and as a nation. Australians pride themselves on being a land of the free and full of diverse culture. This is specifically referred to in our national Anthem; “For those who've come across the seas, We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine,”(McCormick, 1984). Displaying Australia’s open attitude towards immigrants and contributes to the diversity present within our society today. Even before this, much of Australia’s Identity was associated with caucasian culture (Originating from British Settlers). Which is the dominant perception of Australia through the media with australian representation being present through the stereotypes of Bogans, which was made popular through shows like Kath and Kim (ABC, 2007). Also, represented through the popular depiction of Australian people - the bushman made popular by movies like Crocodile Dundee (Faiman, 1986) and through famous real life bushman; Steve Irwin. An important aspect of Australian identity which is consistently neglected is the culture and representation of the initial owners of the land; the aboriginal people. Throughout history the constant mistreatment and neglect of the indigenous, has lead to a massive gap in privilege between the aboriginal people and our

It has been suggested that Australia’s national holiday be changed from 26th January to 1st September. It was put forward that Australia Day which is celebrated on the 26th January be changed to Wattle Day to be celebrated on 1st September.

During the 18th and the 19th centuries, the Australia colonies were established for a range of reasons. One was to have a very big place to punishments all the convicts rather staying in the jail In British. Second the British try to let all other people to have a new life in a new country. The last reason was the gold rush, in the early 19th century which attract most of the men around the world and also a small amount of women to come to Australia in hope to discovered or find gold.