Australia Day

Posted on January 26th, 2008 by Cam.
Categories: Let's talk.

By January 20, 1788, Captain Phillip had anchored at Botony Bay where Captain Cook had recommended settlement. Their hopes were dashed as they failed to find the beauty or industrial potential of the location, so they sailed north to find ‘the finest harbour in the world’, naming a part of it Sydney Cove.

‘On the 26th of January the convict transports moved into their new home as a handful of Aborigines on the shore set up a horrid howl and indicated by angry gestures with sticks and stones that the white man was not wanted. That night, the British flag was unfurled at Sydney Cove, shots were fired, and toasts were drunk’ (p.17).

‘Within a few weeks convicts has stolen food so shamelessly that Phillip decided to have them flogged as a warning to both European and Aborigine of his determination to defend property. When floggings failed to deter, Phillip agreed to use the last sanction of the law and launched one of the thieves into eternity. The white man had come to Australia’ (p.18).

By the 26th of January, 1808, the founding of the colony was traditionally celebrated by the troops in drunken carousals (p.36).

(Mannng Clark, 2006, Revised 4th Edition. A short history of Australia. Penguin: Australia)

Happy Australia Day everyone. A sensational day where we can celebrate our heritage and conveniently forget some details that can make us uncomfortable. Not to take away from the great things that we can celebrate, but I believe there is more to remember than the cooking of lamb on a barbeque or the watching fireworks will represent.

7 comments.

Rachie

Comment on January 26th, 2008.

I’ve just been down to the shops (to buy lamb) and written in the clear blue sky, on the banks of the aforementioned ‘finest harbour in the world’, was the word “sorry”. And I’M sorry to say I didn’t even make the connection until just now reading your blog. Thanks for the reminder.

Cuz Adam

Comment on January 26th, 2008.

“angry gestures”,”shots were fired”,”toasts were drunk”,”stolen food”,”drunken carousals”
Suddenly the South Perth foreshore seems to be a perfect representation of our founding Australia Day.
Does further exerpts from the book state
‘On the folowing morn of the 27th, Captain Phillip surveyed the scene of the night before and was heard to mutter “Bloody Macca wrappers”

Sarah M

Comment on January 26th, 2008.

Amen Cam, amen. And thank you :)

Carms and Juan

Comment on January 26th, 2008.

As George W Bush would say :Happy Austria Day!:

Innsbruck is cool and surrounded by mountains. Good choice by ma and pa to bring us here as kids.

Meeting the rest of the gang tomorrow
Love youse all

Allison

Comment on January 26th, 2008.

hi cam! just like rachie above i was driving in sydney today when i saw a plane begin to write something in the sky. by the beginning of the first ‘r’ i got really excited that the word ‘SORRY’ would be blazing in huge letters across the sky. that, i thought, has made my australia day.
ps. i just watched your pill popping video. you’re funny.

Guy under the influence wearing the aussie flag

Comment on January 27th, 2008.

Happy Australia day to you guys as well.

It’s a great country. Aussie, aussie, aussie . . . oi, oi, oi

Liza & Brett

Comment on January 27th, 2008.

Cam and Libby hope you had a nice Australia day, at the moment we are in Argentina in La Patagonia, we will be there soon. Just to let you know we are thinking and praying for both!! Good luck with the new treatment.
Thinking of you,
Liza & Brett

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