A record 25,000 people will be coming forward to become citizens on Australia Day this year, adding to the national day’s significance.
For the minister directly tasked with overseeing celebrations on the day, the theme has not only been to celebrate but also to reflect on the nation’s past, on the contributions of the migrants and, primarily, to pay tribute to and reflect on the First Australians – the Aboriginal communities and the Torres Strait islanders.
The Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ben Morton speaking to Neos Kosmos said that the Story of Australia campaign and Australia Day itself were to encourage Australians to come together to reflect, respect and celebrate.
The minister said that there was need to adjust Australia Day to make sure that people reflect and respect the contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people first and foremost.
“And so when you think of reflecting and respecting, you think about the impact that the creation of as a result, it needs to be incorporated into how we reflect and respect each other,” Mr Morton said.
“I think if we can get that right as we have seen from a number of Indigenous elders, this is an opportunity to talk about those stories of the world’s oldest living culture, of their people and their survival and their history.”
“If you are of Greek heritage, you are as Australian as the next person and that is what Australia Day is there to celebrate.”
Mr Morton said Australia Day should be about sharing each others’ stories and celebrating. It is the combination of these stories that make Australia what it is today.
“People celebrate Australia Day in a variety of ways, some people go for a barbecue down on the beach, others go to formal events, to local community events. We don’t want to tell people how to celebrate Australia Day – we want to ask them to reflect on those different stories and to be optimistic about our future,” he said.
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“The role of Australia Day is getting stronger – people take stock to reflect on their family stories and their own heritage and to reflect on the stories of Indigenous Australians whose land was forever changed with the arrival of the British and so many others. But with the arrival of new cultures we have to work hard to understand each other and respect each other but to also celebrate our future with optimism and it is Australia Day that brings that into very sharp and important focus.”
He said Australia Day has not always had a sense of solemnity but that is how it could be made better.
“It is about reflecting about the past and also about celebrating our achievements and our future. So that there should be very much a looking to the future as well as respecting the stories of the Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders who have been here more than 60,000 years and whose culture has changed significantly as a result of the creation of modern Australia.
“If you are to be proud of something, if you are to celebrate something, you also need to be grateful for how that has come to be. Australia Day offers that opportunity,” said the minister.
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In offering a definition of what Australia is, Mr Morton said: “For me as a nation, we are a dynamic, thoughtful, respectful and entrepreneurial nation. We are one that has taken lessons from different cultures from all around the world and have blended them to make what is arguably the most successful multicultural nation in the world. This is our strength and is worthy of thanks and celebration.”
Speaking of the Greek story in Australia, the minister said that it began in 1829 when seven young sailors who had been convicted of piracy by a British naval court were transported to Australia. Two of those sailors opted to remain in Australia when they were eventually pardoned by the Crown.
Greeks were part of the human tide that was drawn to Australia by the gold rush of the 1850s. He said there were Greek-born settlers in the mining camps but, because of their maritime backgrounds, they worked on the wharves and on coastal ships.
The minister said the Greek contribution to the Australian story was their hard work, entrepreneurial skills, their sense of fun and a “fair go” attitude.
“I have never meet a Greek person I have not sat down and enjoyed time with. So they bring a level of enthusiasm and optimism in the community.
“But they also have a very big heart as in the work the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia is doing in organising fire appeals to raise funds for those affected by the recent bushfires,” said Mr Morton.
“Good fun, enjoyable nature, entrepreneurialism, their hard work and their big hearts.
“If you are of Greek heritage, you are as Australian as the next person and that is what Australia Day is there to celebrate. And I am proud that that is what the Australia Day messaging campaign is about this year,” he said.