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Australia Day
Australia Day is celebrated each year on January 26.
Australia Day remembers the day in 1788 when the first white people arrived to live in Australia.
Australia Day is a holiday everywhere in Australia.
On January 26, 1788, a fleet of 11 ships under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove. On board the ships, which became known as the First Fleet, were sailors, soldiers and convicts from England.
From 1804 onwards, the people of the colony celebrated the day.
Australia Day became a national holiday in 1994. There are flag raising ceremonies all around the country and it is a day when many migrants (people from other countries who want to live in Australia) become Australian citizens at citizenship ceremonies.
Each year a person is named Australian of the Year on January 26.
You will find a list of the Australians of the Year and information about them here:
http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/?action=list&type=2&cat=0
Australia Day is a day to celebrate everything that is good about Australia and to think about what can be done to make life in Australia better for everyone.
Australia Day and Indigenous Australians
Some Indigenous Australians (Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples) do not celebrate Australia Day because they believe that January 26, 1788 was the day when white people invaded their land. Many call the day Survival Day.
Because of these feelings some people think that it would be better if Australia Day was celebrated on a different date so that ALL Australians could celebrate with pride and respect.
What do you think?
You can read more about Australia Day and Indigenous Australians at: http://www.australiaday.org.au/toolkit/page172.asp
Go here for ideas about how to celebrate Australia Day
http://www.australiaday.org.au/toolkit/page233.asp
If you use any of this information in your own work, acknowledge this source in your bibliography like this:
Thomas, Ron. & Sydenham, Shirley. Australia Day [Online] www.kidcyber.com.au (2011)
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