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article by Nala Mansell-McKenna 

from the Wednesday 25th 

January 2012, Koori Mail

Offensive date that must be changed

It's that time of the year again, when the shops line their aisles with cheap Australian flags, bikinis and toys, organisers are busily preparing events and there are ads all over the television encouraging us all to celebrate Australia Day.

But why not, this year, think about what it is that you are really celebrating.

"...so that we can all proudly wave our flags and celebrate the wonderful country that we now share."

- Nala Mansell-McKenna

Ask yourself why January 26 is the chosen date for celebrations and why Aboriginies find the celebrations of that date so offinsive.

We all know that the 26th of January 1788 marks the day the British first landed on Australian soil and began invading Aboriginal lands.


We know January 26 marks the beginning of invasion, murder, rape and theft.


But most Australians say they just just take the day off so that they can enjoy a barbecue and beer with their mates. So why not change the date to one that is not so divisive?


On January 26 Aboriginies from across the country will mourn, just as we do every Anzac Day.


We will mourn the deaths of the 50 Aboriginal men, women and children who were massarced at Risdon Cove while hunting kangaroo; we will mourn the deaths of those shot in cold blood while bathing in the waters of the Jordan River lagoon; we will mourn  the loss of our land, the stolen children, the remains of our ancestors held in overseas institutions and everything else that our people have had to endure since the arrival of the white man on January 26, 1788.


We will also call for the race-based celebrations of January 26 to come to a close and for a new date to be chosen, so that we can all proudly wave our flags and celebrate the wonderful country that we now share.




-Nala Mansell-McKenna
State Secretary
Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
Launceston, Tasmania