Celebrate who we’ve become as Aussies

AUSTRALIA Day – is it the day we celebrate the day James Cook discovered our country or Arthur Phillip stepping ashore for the first time? No.

It is the day we celebrate how we, our parents our grandparents, our great and great great grand parents have toiled with heat and soul, with our blood, sweat and tears to build a nation which is respected in the world community and we enjoy the benefits of our hard work.

We are a proud nation, we’ve defended our shores and assisted others to defend their freedoms, our farmers and country folk have fought and conquered our harsh land to feed us all through firestorms and floods to make sure our future generations.

COVID-19 and other diseases have never beaten us and we have only grown stronger by the battles to protect ourselves as one nation made up of many from around the world which are now a part of one culture, Australian.

It is not a day to be targeted by claims of those who don’t believe in our culture which is one we as a nation have created and is singular in the world.

Nor is it a day for some to claim it is a day of shame because of our rocky history which saw the murder of both cultures. Whites and Aboriginal alike killed the innocent.

No one, but those of us who are citizens of this great nation Australia whether born here or having pledged our loyalty to our Commonwealth – only we have a right to claim ownership of this country.

And as Australians we chose the date of our day of celebration and over many years we have decided how it should be celebrated and no political party or self-interest group has the right to tell us how or when our day occurs or is run, nor will they succeed in changing our minds on how we see our day.

Hope you all had a happy Australia Day ... to all of us.