Australia Day, 2018

This date is not when Australia was discovered, the Aboriginal peoples did that, then long afterwards Macassan fishing fleets regularly visited Arnhem Land, then the Portuguese and the Dutch found the place. It is not the date Ln. Cook landed in Botany, nor the date The First Fleet landed in Botany Bay.

This date is the date of a silent march and meeting that unanimously passed the resolution: ‘We, representing the Aborigines of Australia, assembled in conference at the Australian Hall, Sydney, on the 26th day of January, 1938, this being the 150th Anniversary of the Whiteman’s seizure of our country, hereby make protest against the callous treatment of our people by the whitemen during the past 150 years, and we appeal to the Australian nation of today to make new laws for the education and care of Aborigines, we ask for a new policy which will raise our people to full citizen status and equality within the community.’

The 1938 celebrations re-enacted the landing of Captain Arthur Phillip. ‘Aboriginal people living in Sydney refused to take part so organisers brought in men from Menindee, in western New South Wales, and kept them locked up at the Redfern Police Barracks stables until the re-enactment took place. On the day itself, they were made to run up the beach away from the British.’ (National Museum of Australia).

I was down at Barangaroo Reserve early for WugulOra morning ceremony, hoping to see the fire leave Me-mel (Goat Island). I was distracted by singing behind me, the Koomurri Aboriginal Dance Troupe were creating their own fire, singing and dancing to encourage the spark.

Smoking ceremonies are an ancient custom among Aboriginal Australians in which native plants are burnt to produce smoke to ward off bad spirits, acknowledge ancestors and pay respect to the land and sea of country. The smoke is believed to have healing and cleansing properties.

NSW Governor David Hurley spoke from the heart.

‘I acknowledge that we stand on Gadigal land and I pay my respects to the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners, and their Elders, past and present. I also acknowledge our young people whose voices are so important to the future of our nation.

Here within this beautiful harbour-side Barangaroo Reserve, named after one of the strongest of Aboriginal women, we celebrate the world’s oldest surviving and living culture . . . Barangaroo’s history reminds us of the past struggles and achievements of Aboriginal leaders and ancestors and, thereby, of the example of courage and determination that will help us to work towards a brighter and positive future.

This is a shared journey, a journey of four parts: ‘Acknowledge, apologise, reconcile and build’. We, Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, share a love for this land. The roots and expression of that love may be different but we must use this common feeling as one of the drivers of reconciliation.

We have the opportunity, now, to write a different story, to acknowledge past events and to use that growing understanding to energise us and thus empower this, and the next generation of young Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

We are all learning.

I am also learning.

The story of your people, your ‘country’, pre-dates dispossession – like this land, your story of survival is strong, proud and inspiring.

I, and many other Australians, recognise this. We understand that on this day 229 years ago, the coming of the First Fleet wreaked a terrible impact on your people, your families and your culture.’

Rayma Johnson dancer, choreographer, Wiradjuri woman

Then the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian spoke. Another good speech, recognising that all Australians need to work towards continuous reconciliation, and that we each are responsible in making the country a better place for everyone and future generations.