Jan 24, 2025
Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10
Australia Day: A Personal Reflection
“... “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or
weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the
law.” (Nehemiah 8:9, NRSVue) When I read those words from Nehemiah
it caused me to have a good hard think about Australia Day. Of
course Australia Day is not a celebration of the rededication of
the Temple after the return from exile but...
Australia Day is a time to reflect on what it means to call
this nation home. I take pride in our history of democratic
innovation. We became a nation through a peaceful vote, the first
to give women the full franchise not simply the right to vote but
also the right to serve in parliament, and led the world with the
first Labor government. We've championed workers' rights,
contributed significantly during world wars, and played key roles
in international law, human rights, and cooperation. From
scientific breakthroughs to sporting achievements and vibrant arts,
Australia is indeed a remarkable nation.
But I cannot overlook the other side of our history. If my
heritage were First Nations, this day would feel different. My
ancestors might have lost connection to their land through
colonization, disease, or missionary policies. Indigenous
Australians were denied rights for much of our shared
history—citizenship came late, voting rights even later, and equal
pay only arrived in the late 1960s. Until 1967, Indigenous
Australians weren’t even fully counted in the census but were
classified under flora and fauna provisions.
Stories like those from Mornington Island remind me of the
impact of displacement and cultural disruption. There, traditional
enemies and people from different areas were forced to live
together. For three generations, children were raised in
dormitories, severed from both traditional ways and mainstream
Australian culture. Only people my age and younger had the chance
to raise their children in their own homes. What does that mean for
community stability today?
If I were in their shoes, it would be hard to celebrate. I
would think about grandparents and parents who lost their language
and way of life, forced to trade it for a life that didn’t offer
the stability of mainstream Australia. I would remember the
sickness, displacement, and ongoing struggles. Like the Israelites
hearing the story of their past, I would weep for all that was
lost.
Still, I acknowledge the achievements of mainstream Australia.
The day we currently mark as Australia Day, January 26,
commemorates the 1788 landing of Captain Arthur Phillip and the
establishment of the colony of New South Wales. That event laid the
foundation for modern Australia but displaced Aboriginal peoples
through disease, violence, and settlement. For many First Nations
people, it’s a day of mourning.
As a descendant of free settlers, I celebrate our democratic
beginnings and accomplishments on the world stage. But this
celebration should also include acknowledgment and repentance. Just
as the Israelites celebrated their blessings while mourning their
failures, so should we.
I am not sure if Australia Day the 26th of January is the
right day but whatever day or days we have I believe it would be
best to celebrate our achievements and blessings and to
reflect on and address our national shortcomings. Whether on this
date or another, we must honour the complexity of our history with
honesty and hope.
As I say every Sunday we should “acknowledge the loss, grief,
benefits and blessings of our common history and pledge ourselves
to the ministry of reconciliation. We [should] look forward to the
time when Christ shall make all things new and every tear shall be
wiped away.” Moreover as people who trust in a living and active
saviour and God we should work for the reconciliation and healing
that we know God can bring even right now. (See Rev 21:1-5, 2 Cor
5:16-20)