on 26/1/01 8:55 AM, [log in to unmask] at [log in to unmask] wrote:
Alison,
Arthur Philip and the First Fleet. Port Jackson not Botany Bay (that was
Cook just beating La Perouse - what a different history (and cuisine we may
have had)). Federation is Jan 1st which is of course a problem and indicates
the usual bad planning in this country where people would prefer a drink
than an idea - people have talked about making Australia Day on that date
but it's such a stupid idea and no-one in this country can make a decision
anyway so it won't happen (look at how long the nonsense about a second
Sydney airport has dragged on, and a republic, and and and ... but I
digress).
And because it's Port Jackson (ie Sydney) it's why most people outside
Sydney don't know or care - indeed few Australians really give the rats -
it's not like Bastille Day or the various Independence Days other nations
celebrate. And of course it's Invasion Day for many. The notion of
independence means nothing in Australia - we live on stolen land (though I
share your concerns about 'primordial landrights') but now have nowhere else
to go except hide behind the coat-tails of Old Blighty and more increasingly
the USofA (I noted Colin Powell's recent comments about us and shivered).
I guess all that's left is to break open the esky and knock back a few
coldies. I think there's some fireworks or some kind of crap like that
somewhere here in Sydney and the usual platitudes in the press and from the
pollies. But I don't give a rats - same feeling about this year of
Federation centenary which I find offensive more than anything.
But cheers anyway. It is too hot to do anything but have a nice cold drink
(but not alcoholic of course, oh no, never that).
Jill
The Federation date is Jan 1st which is why
> BTW, it ocurred to me yesterday that I didn't actually know what
> Australia Day (happy Australia Day, everyone) commemorates. Is it the
> landing of Governor Arthur Philip in Botany Bay? Is it the anniversary
> of Federation? Is it something else? I asked a few people, and none of
> them knew either.
_________________________________
Jill Jones
50 Ruby Street
Marrickville NSW 2204
AUSTRALIA
[log in to unmask]
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~jpjones
|