Another January 26, another Australia Day—and maybe it's time to sit and reflect about what Australia Day means.
For some this day may commemorate the time they became Australian citizens, a place to call home free from conflict and persecution. For others it might mark the remembrance of parents' and grandparents' stories, about how they came to Australia in years past.
For many of us, this day involves some sort of barbecue, maybe some backyard cricket and a meal or party with friends and family.
The history of Australia Day
As I've been reflecting, I looked up the Australia Day website. It says that the purpose of this day is to commemorate the arrival of the first fleet in 1788, under the command of Captain Cook.
I also looked up the meaning of commemorate, and that means to remember a past person or event, and in remembering, giving it honour and respect. Therefore, the purpose of Australia Day is to remember and honour the landing of the first fleet in Botany Bay.
For First Nation people though, this day is remembered as Invasion Day.
The first day of many more in which their people's lands would be forcefully taken from them. Many of them would be murdered or diseased, and those who were left rounded up into 'missions' and 'taught' how to live.
26 January 1788 forever changed the all the lives of the millions of First Nations people living here in this land. There was no recognition of them being here, as Australia was considered 'Terra nullius' from the Latin to mean 'Nobody's land'.
This term comes from Pope Urban II—a 1095 papal bull allowing (since that date) Christian states to claim land inhabited by non-Christians.
To this day there is still no treaty with First Nations people.
Remembering
Throughout history many events have scared us as a nation: World Wars One and Two, Vietnam, Korea, the Bali bombings, 9/11 etc. These events—and rightly so—are annually remembered.
The purpose of this remembrance is to ensure we don't forget the sacrifices made, honour those lost, and to learn from the mistakes leading to these awful atrocities.
However, there is a startling difference between the birth of Australia and the historically significant events listed above. Notably, the events and discrimination of First Nations people is generally seen as unimportant, irrelevant and 'in the past'. In many cases those who wish to remember these atrocities cannot because they are either actively or passively prevented from doing do—being told to 'get over it', 'it wasn't us who did that to you', or met with apathy and indifference.
True remembrance
If we are going to truly remember Australia Day for all that it was and what it began, we really need to change what we do. A day of celebration is not called for here, but a day of serious and solemn self-reflection as a nation and individually on what was the day that birthed one nation, but destroyed hundreds of others.
In my view, until this happens, we will never truly be a nation that 'remembers' its history, a nation that commemorates its past or is able to move forward. Unless we do we risk the chance such atrocities will occur again.
Michael Enderby is currently a Chaplain in the South Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. He has a heart and a passion for walking alongside youth and helping them realise and grow into their potential. He resides in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Michael Enderby's personal blog is herehttp://www.scot262wh.wordpress.com
His previous articles are at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/michael-enderby.html