A Better Australia Day

Football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars...

The song from the 70s ran through my mind as I watched the pie eating competition at Mad Fish Cafe this morning.

In some ways this country hasn't changed much in the last 30 years.

Events in our local area included: thong throwing contests; cockroach races; prawn peeling competitions; beach cricket; sandcastle building; whip cracking and hula-hooping.

Things that many of us consider "Aussie" but wouldnt be caught dead doing on any other day.

But in many other ways things have changed. A lot. For me, this year Australia Day felt different. And I am pleased to say - better.

That's because this year, as well as doing the usual, fun in the sun stuff, I had the opportunity to spend some time with some local Indigenous people. Not just as a spectator at a Welcome to Country but as a fellow Aussie, interested in learning more about Indigenous Australian Culture.

From the dreamtime storytelling, to the wonderful journey of the Message Stick Van, learning more about our first Australian's helped me to really celebrate Australia Day this year.

Somehow it made the day feel more legitimate.

As a descendant of a First Fleet convict I had always been uneasy about celebrating British settlement in Australia. It is no surprise to me that many consider the day to be more appropriately termed Invasion Day.

However this year, in our home, along our street and at our beach, the feeling of togetherness was tangible. A terrific celebration of Aussies, gathering shoulder to shoulder, to acknowledge how lucky we feel to live in this country.

What did you do on Australia Day? Did you become a citizen? Use the comment form below to let me know what you got up to...