Australia Day in Sydney

The HMAS Bounty.

Does my make-up look ok?

Australia Day is a day that the Nation celebrates on the 26th of January. It is a proud day, a day when everyone gets together to celebrate the things that make up this wonderful country. Multiculturalism, diversity, culture, and of course the beautiful and unique landscape of Australia. Although it should be a day of celebration for everyone, it was marred this year by some racist and cowardly graffiti in Melbourne as well as Botany Bay in Sydney. I won't waste time on these events, as they are truly low and not worth mentioning again.

Tall ships in the harbour.

Waking up this morning, knowing what day it was and how much I wanted to be a part of it, still didn't make it easy getting out of bed. It wasn't the fact that I was out till 3:30am at a friends birthday, but more to do with the weather - it was grey, a little chilly, and threatening to rain. It only happens once a year, and considering I haven't been in the country to celebrate it for 7 years, I headed out into the city despite my initial hesitation.

Happy Australia Day!

There was something to be thankful for regarding the weather - the foreshore didn't have it's usual festival 'sardine can' feel about it. People were out and about, dressed in Ozzie flags and temporary tattoos in place, but there just weren't that many of them. The few that were there were rugged up and bravely facing the weather - reminding me of the English at 'the seaside' - too cold and windy to be doing it, but it's summer, and that's what you do in summer! I managed to get a good front-row position under the bridge for the Sydney ferry race. The fire boat started the race, kind of like the lap car in a motor race, but spraying huge jets of water into the air, and nearly making itself disappear it it's own mist. The ferrys were all the same, apart from the sponsor's logos all over them, but it was fun to watch.

A young Ozzie.

An older Ozzie.

Apart from the Harbour activities, there was plenty more going on today. Unfortunately I didn't have the stamina to do an all-dayer in this weather, so I left it on a high note. I did see people with paint still on them from the 5km 'fun-run' Colour Dash through the city. Participants start the 'race' with a complementary white t-shirt, and as they pass through different colour stages, volunteers through paint balls at them. After 5 kms of this, you can imagine the state you end up in! All in good fun, and raising money for MS (Multiple Sclerosis).

People watching the ferry boat race.

It was a good half-day out, and it has been a pleasure to be a (small) part of Australia Day at home. I have spent many Australia Days in different parts of the world, and you wouldn't even know it from a normal working day. Here, there is something happening all the time, all day. It is also the only day of the year that the game 'Two-up' is allowed to be played and bet on.

2 blokes getting into the spirit of it!

An aboriginal dance being performed.

We're all Australian!!

 To finish off, I would like to say something on a very touchy subject. To some people, it is not 'Australia Day,' but 'Invasion Day.' On this day, in 1788, the First Fleet arrived in Sydney harbour and raised the British Flag, claiming New Holland in the name of King George. From that point, the native people of Australia were mistreated, killed and had their children stolen, just to name a few injustices. Australia has had it fair share of internal conflict, wrongs, and mistakes, but a huge step was made in 2008 when the then Prime Minsiter Kevin Rudd said the all important words "I'm sorry" for the Government and the Nation as a whole. Whatever happened in the past, there comes a time to forgive the past, reconcile, and move on together. Australia Day is a day for ALL Australians, no matter where they were born or grew up, but consider this country their own.

If only more strangers hugged each other, we would have less problems in the world! Great work!!