Today 26th January is Australia Day, here in Australia. For many, it is a day of celebration, for others it is a day of commiseration and sadness. Australia Day for me is about celebrating what makes this country great with it’s cultural diversity with everyone who calls Australia home, from all the countries around the world.

Out of all the countries in the world where I could have been born in, I was the lucky one to have been born here, as I truly love calling Australia my home. Others were born elsewhere and came to Australia to live a better life, became Australian citizens and live in their adopted country.

For our traditional land owners, I see and feel you too and how many of you see this day as one of the worst days of your history. As someone who’s family came to Australia as migrants, as someone who was born here in this country, I am not going to continue apologising for something I had no part to play in back in 1770 when Australia was first discovered.

What I would love to see is the day be about celebrating what this country is about. This land we call home. This place that accepts cultural diversity, traditional customs and culture from around the world. We need to come together in reconciliation, in real understanding and in respect. As the song I am Australian by the Seekers says, “We are one but 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”.

Happy Australia Day to you all and how you choose to celebrate, or not celebrate the day 🇦🇺🪃🦘🐨🏏🍺⛱️

Until next time

Kaye