January 26 is a controversial national day, with many claiming it excludes Australia’s indigenous population by celebrating the day white people settled here.
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The National Wattle Day Association has come forward with a proposal for a new national day in which everyone would be represented.
In an opinion piece for Fairfax, association president Terry Fewtrell said moving Australia’s national day to National Wattle Day on September 1 would be a unifying change.
“...wattle is primarily a symbol of celebration – of our land and its people and the efforts of all Australians to build a sustainable and sharing society,” he said.
“Wattle is a meaningful symbol that on National Wattle Day unites all Australians across all parts of the country. It has witnessed our past. It can guide our future.”
The Courier Nature Notes columnist Roger Thomas said the wattle would be a good symbol for a national day.
“There are over 800 types, all over Australia, and they are easily recognisable,” he said. “It could be a unifying symbol because wattles are found in deserts, rainforests, all parts of Australia.”
“They come in all shapes and sizes as well.”
The wattle is already Australia’s floral emblem.
Australia Day has long been a controversial pick because the date marks the arrival of the first fleet in 1788.
Mr Fewtrell said this excluded Aboriginal people from the celebration.
“Australia Day on January 26, however, marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and in times past was called Foundation Day. It is also known as Invasion Day,” he said.
“While it marks the beginning of white settlement in Australia it does not serve Australians well as a national day of celebration. It is a statement of fact that it continues to offend and divide indigenous and, increasingly, non-indigenous Australians.”
Alternative dates have been proposed in the past, with December 3 mooted to celebrate the Eureka Rebellion by The Bulletin magazine in the 1880s.
There were concerns at the time, however, that the event had even lost significance in Ballarat by then, nevermind nationally.
But National Wattle Day has form in this area, with South Australia celebrating it as the national day in the years after Federation.
Opinion, page 16
