Ed,

I am puzzled why Australia Day is the 26th of January.

“Australia” instead of ” New Holland” as a name for our whole country was formally introduced by Governor Macquarie in the latter part of 1817, not 26th January 1788. This followed a recommendation by the explorer Mathew Flinders and the name was subsequently taken up on official documents.

“Australia” as a united country legally came about later with the federation of the separate states, so surely it would be more fitting to have Australia Day celebrated on one of these significant dates? There is some choice here – the date Queen Victoria signed The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (9th July 1900), was enacted (1st January 1901) or the date of the opening of the first parliament, (9th May 1901)? The first Australia Day was on 30th July 1915 as a fundraiser for World War 1. A national Public Holiday was not proclaimed till the 1990s.

I do not dispute the British influence in developing Australia as the wonderful country it is. However, it is now time to recognise our own sovereignty. l find it abhorrent that we should celebrate our National Day on a day of invasion which resulted in genocide and dispossession of the indigenous people of Australia, including the Clarence Valley. Most countries of the world have been invaded at some stage but Amnesty International tells us Australia is the only country who celebrates their National Day on that same day. “Captain Arthur Phillip Day” or “First Fleet Day Settlement Day” could be a better naming of 26th January?

If we want “Australia Day” to be on a more accurate and meaningful day and to be a day of unity, the date needs to be changed. Each time a poll is taken, public sentiment is moving away from the 26th January, especially with the younger generation. As an Australian of white British descent with a convict ancestor and approaching 80 years of age, I can only hope the change of date happens in my lifetime.

Rosemary Baxter, Lawrence