Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

Australia Day: celebration or commemoration?

Is the 26th of January Australia Day or Invasion Day?
Is it a day for celebration, a day of mourning or protest?
Take the ANTAR quiz and find out.

26 January 1788 was the day the first colonial settlement in the land now known as Australia was established.

For many Australians, the 26th of January is Australia Day, a national public holiday, the last long weekend at the end of the summer break before many workers and families finally submit to the beginning of a long working year.

For others it's a day of 'national celebration', a day for the 'demonstration of national pride'.

It's a day that citizenship ceremonies are held for New Australians, and the Australian Day Honours List is announced by the Prime Minister.

But what might this day mean to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples? While responses would be diverse, 26 January 1788 certainly represents the beginning of great losses of life, land and self-government and drastic changes to Aboriginal peoples' way of life. For these and many other reasons, the day has been marked as a Day of Mourning, also known as Invasion Day and Survival Day.

On the 26th of January this year, please take a moment to reflect on the injustice experienced by Indigenous people, which continues today, as a result of colonisation.

How much do you know about Aboriginal peoples' experiences?

Challenge your perceptions about Australia Day by trying the quiz on our new website www.antarvictoria.org.au.

The 50th participant to get all three answers correct will win a CD recorded live at the 2004 "Come Together" Concert, free membership to ANTaR Victoria plus a bunch of other goodies!


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