Australia Day 2016 has come and gone and, as has been the case in previous years, the celebration was somewhat hijacked by debates over periphery issues such as flags and public holidays.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As a nation, Australia has come a long way in its short history; in many aspects it still has a long way to go.
We must never try to rewrite history; at the same time we must never stop trying to bring about equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, especially in regards to access to health and education.
Unfortunately, there is still an ugly underbelly of racism in this country. Fortunately, over the last 12 months a growing number of people have stood up and spoken out against it.
The outpouring of support for former Australian of the Year Adam Goodes was overwhelming, none more than the show of support from Eden author John Blay, who led the local Racism: It Stops With Me campaign.
It is pleasing the momentum has continued to gather with high profile people such as SBS journalist Stan Grant, whose video has been likened to Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' moment for Australia.
Sadly, for many Indigenous Australians, January 26 will always be Invasion Day.
Aboriginal Elder Pastor Ossie Cruse showed amazing dignity, compassion and reconciliation as he was welcomed to the stage as Merimbula’s Australia Day Ambassador where he acknowledged the hurdles that still exist while at the same time saying how proud he was to see the Australian flag raised.
Eden is a better place for having the likes of Uncle Ossie and Australia Day OAM recipient Murray Jarvis in its midst.
As we enjoy our backyard barbies or community cricket matches, it is all too easy to push into the back of our minds the millions of people around the world who are fighting for the lifestyle so many of us take for granted.
Australia is indeed the Lucky Country. It is a land of spectacular beauty and golden opportunity whose greatest asset is, and always will be, its people.
From our first Australians, to the men who fought at Gallipoli (and the members of the Australian Defence Force who are deployed to far-flung corners of the globe today), and the people who chose January 26 to pledge their allegiance to Australia, we truly are a blessed nation.
