Australia Day marked with ceremonies and protests

26 January 2021, 09:14

Russell Dawson of the Koomurri Aboriginal Dancers participates in a smoking ceremony during Australia Day ceremonies in Sydney
Russell Dawson of the Koomurri Aboriginal Dancers participates in a smoking ceremony during Australia Day ceremonies in Sydney. Picture: PA

Some dub January 26 Invasion Day over wrongs committed against Indigenous people.

Australia Day was marked by socially distanced leaders offering calming words as protesters denounced celebrations of a day some dub “Invasion Day” because of historical wrongs committed against Indigenous people.

The 4,000 protesters who gathered in small groups in Sydney’s Domain were warned they could be fined or jailed for breaching limits on large crowds.

But many protesters wore masks and adhered to social distancing guidelines, and only a few arrests occurred for not following police orders.

Protest organisers called for Australia Day, which recognises the day the British navy arrived with convict ships and raised a flag signalling the intent to found a British colony, to be abolished.

Paul Silva, a nephew of Indigenous man David Dungay Jr who died in police custody in 2015, said: “They’re out there celebrating this day like it’s a birthday or Christmas.”

He said January 26 was “the day when our ancestors were murdered”.

Members of the crowd raise their fists during an Aboriginal-led Invasion Day rally
Members of the crowd raise their fists during an Aboriginal-led Invasion Day rally (Rick Rycroft/AP)

Elsewhere in Australia’s biggest city, the usually vibrant Sydney Harbour was almost empty as most of the events were scaled back or cancelled to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian used a speech in the city to try to calm tensions.

“We must also recognise, as a mature and decent nation, that today is a day that causes pain for some of our First Nations people,” she said.

“We cannot and should never deny any aspect of our history, or the key milestones that have made us the nation we are today.”

Members of the public participate in an Aboriginal smoking ceremony during Australia Day ceremonies
Members of the public participate in an Aboriginal smoking ceremony during Australia Day(Rick Rycroft/AP)

People also have been divided over whether former tennis champion Margaret Court should have been given the nation’s top civilian award, the Companion of the Order of Australia.

The award was given to recognise Court’s service to tennis as winner of a record 24 grand slam singles titles and a mentor for young athletes.

But Court’s tennis achievements have been overshadowed by her outspoken homophobic views.

Journalist Kerry O’Brien rejected an Australia Day award he was to receive this year to take a stand against Court receiving her honour, and Canberra Dr Clara Tuck Meng Soo handed back her 2016 award in protest.

In the capital Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attended a flag-raising and citizenship ceremony and told those gathered that January 26 had changed the country forever.

He said: “There is no escaping or cancelling that fact. For better and worse, it was the moment where the journey to our modern Australia began.

“And it is this continuing Australian journey that we recognise today.

“Our stories since that day have been of sorrow and of joy, of loss and redemption, of failure and of success.”

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Sam Bankman-Fried

FTX founder Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for crypto fraud

France Valentino

Former Gucci designer Alessandro Michele named Valentino creative director

Russia Shooting

Russia arrests another suspect in concert hall attack that killed 143

American Easter egg

White House’s annual Easter egg roll to be attended by 40,000 people

Barbers in Paris

Proposal to ban discrimination over a person’s hair passes first legal hurdle

Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian Authority names new government following pressure to reform

Arvind Kejriwal

Opposition leader Kejriwal locked up for further four days, court rules

Resident clears rubble from home

Russia wears down Ukrainian defences with missile and drone attacks

Pope Francis

Pope urges priests to avoid ‘clerical hypocrisy’ in Maundy Thursday speech