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Australia
Day - A History 1988 to Present
Post the 1988
Bicentennial celebrations, the
expectation was that the Australian
public would not continue to observe
Australia Day in such style and with such
import.
Despite
this lack of optimism, each year since
1988 Australia Day celebrations across
the country have continued to grow in
number and stature and ceremonies have
become increasingly appealing to a broad
community audience.
In 1993,
the Australia Day celebrations were
closely linked to Sydney's bid for the
2000 Olympics and in 1994 the devastating
January bushfires were very much a
current issue. In that year, the official
Australia Day ceremony at Darling Harbour
honoured representatives from all the
relevant bushfire brigade regions
throughout New South Wales allowing
Australians to say 'thank you' to their
firefighting heroes.
There still
remained separate dates for Australia Day
celebrations in some states despite the
increase in community involvement, the
fact that all States and Territories had
recognised the day from 1946 and that
Bicentennial celebrations took place
around the country on the same day, the
26 January 1988. It took until 1994 for
united Australia-wide celebrations to
take place on the 26 January and national
celebrations have been held on the actual
day since that year.
While the
26 January has remained our national day
from the time of Phillip's landing, much
discussion has taken place since the
1800's on the pros and cons of this
particular date. The reasons cited for a
change of date have been varied -
historical, practical and most recently,
the desire for reconciliation with our
indigenous population. At the time of
writing, the date remains the 26 January
and the discussion continues.
Australia
Day has become a community day. There are
still formal ceremonies throughout the
country - flag raising, citizenship
ceremonies and the presentation of
important community awards such as
Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year,
but the 26 January has become much more
for the average Australian.
Celebrations
now include a strong festive aspect with
special events encouraging the
participation of the entire family and
all members of a community. Australia Day
Committees involve their ethnic and
indigenous communities, service clubs,
sporting and cultural organisations while
local government has become increasingly
supportive.
Nationally,
Australia Day celebrations are growing
each year. In 1996, an estimated 6.5
million Australians participated in
Australia Day activities and recent polls
show an overwhelming proportion of
Australians now view the celebration of
our national day as a significant and
important event.
And while
the historical aspects of the 26 January
will always be acknowledged, there is a
greater awareness of the need to
celebrate modern Australia - a land of
diverse ethnic makeup, a land working
towards reconciliation with its
indigenous people and a nation gearing
itself for the significant events and
celebrations of the Year 2000 Olympics,
the new millennium and the Centenary
Of Federation in 2001.
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Resourced from:
http://www.adc.nsw.gov.au/history.htm
  
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