Australia Day is the official National Day of Australia. It is celebrated on January 26 each year and commemorates the first landing in Australia by Captain Arthur Phillip. Most Australians consider January 26 with national pride, flying the Australian flag from businesses, homes, cars and even their babies. They attend festivals, fireworks, community and sporting events or gather for family barbecues at homes, parks or on the beach.
Though 26 January marks this specific event, today Australia Day celebrations reflect contemporary Australia: our diverse society and landscape, our remarkable achievements and our bright future.
On Australia Day, over half of the nation’s population of 21 million attend either an organised community event, or get together with family and friends with the intention of celebrating our national day. Many more spend the public holiday relaxing with family and friends.
Each year on January 26, an “Australian of the Year” award ceremony takes place. The lawns of Parliament House in Canberra are the site of this prestigious event. The awards go to four individuals who have made outstanding achievements. The award categories are:
Australian of the Year
Senior Australian of the Year
Young Australian of the Year
Australia’s Local Hero
Award recipients enjoy tea with the Prime Minister and lunch with the Governor General. Then the honours are conducted from a podium in front of Parliament House.
Yet Australia Day is much more than barbeques and fireworks. It is more than another public holiday. It is more than the pride and excitement of new citizens who call themselves Australian for the first time on 26 January after being conferred citizenship.