Fiona Lowe

Outback Romance

©Australia Day©

Australia Day, January 26, is the biggest day of celebration in the country and is observed as a public holiday in all states and territories.

On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate what's great about Australia and being Australian. It's the day to reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in our great nation. It's the day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future.

Australia Day means different things to different people and this is especially true for the First Australians. For many Indigenous Australians 26 January is an occasion to reflect on past loss and suffering.

There are also those in the wider community who share these mixed emotions about our national day, and they appreciate the efforts of event organisers to acknowledge that Australia Day evokes a variety of emotions.

There are Australia Day awards recognising service in all shapes and forms and it is also a day many migrants decide to adopt Australia as their country and they take up citizenship. They are given a certificate and a small native plant to mark this significant occasion.

My family generally attend a family day by the sea where there are free rides, fire works and community groups spruiking their activities. The smell of onions, sausages, falafels, souvlaki and ice cream fill the air....a true representation of our multicultural society.