All Australian's Love AUSTRALIA DAY

About Our National Day

On Australia Day we come together as a nation to celebrate
what’s great about Australia and being Australian. It’s the day to
reflect on what we have achieved and what we can be proud of in
our great nation. It’s the day for us to re-commit to making
Australia an even better place for the future.

Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the
First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of
the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur
Phillip, in 1788 .

Though 26th January marks this specific event, today Australia Day
celebrations reflect contemporary Australia: our diverse society
and landscape, our remarkable achievements and our bright future.
It also is an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s history,
and to consider how we can make Australia an even better place
in 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.

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.

At its core, Australia Day is a day driven by communities, and the
celebrations held in each town, suburb or city – unified by the
celebration of what’s great about Australia and being Australian –
are the foundation of its ongoing success.

Australia Day Ceremonies
There are a number of ceremonial aspects to many Australia Day
events which have become both a tradition and a symbol of our
national day. If you’re organising an Australia Day event these
ceremonies can add meaning to your day. Australia Day ceremonies
can include:

Citizenship Ceremonies
Australian citizenship is more than just a ceremony and forms an
important part of Australia Day celebrations. It symbolises our
unity as a nation. It represents commitment to Australia and its
people, the values we share and our common future. It also symbolises
the sense of belonging to the country where we have
been born or where we have decided to make our home. Australian
citizenship is a shared identity, a common bond which
unites all Australians while respecting our diversity.

Affirmation Ceremonies
Affirmation ceremonies allow Australian-born citizens to affirm
their loyalty to Australia and its people—engendering a feeling
of belonging to their community and building pride in their citizenship.
These ceremonies have no status in law and no legal
effect. Participation is voluntary.

The Australian Flag and flag flying
On Australia Day, people all over the country will fly the Australian
National Flag, as well as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Flags.

Australian National Anthem
The Australian National Anthem, proclaimed in 1984, identifies
Australia at home and overseas. It unites the nation and is a public
expression of joy and pride in being Australian.

The two authorised verses of the Australian National Anthem, as
proclaimed in 1984, are:

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts;
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands,
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands,
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share,
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia fair.