For me, Australia Day is about acknowledging and celebrating everything that makes this country great and everyone in it who calls Australia home, regardless of whether they were born here or came from overseas and choose to call Australia home.

Australia Day is about celebrating it’s diverse people and our unique culture you will not find anywhere else in the world.

There is a song sung by The Seekers called “I Am Australian” and it sums up my feelings for Australia Day perfectly because we are one and we are many and from all the lands on earth we come, we’ll share a dream and sing with one voice I am, you are, we are Australian.

This day also causes division between the traditional land holders of this country with the arrival of Captain Cook’s ship and the colonisation of their lands but also the social injustices caused to them and their people by others since arriving in Australia and taking over the lands of the traditional people.

I hope that we can reconcile as a country and a nation with the first people, to respect each other and to appreciate what we all contribute to making Australia a great place and special place to live.

Until next time

Kaye