With Australia Day celebrations becoming increasingly steeped in controversy, a rapidly growing local movement is calling to change the date of the iconic day.
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January 26 is a day that divides our nation. While many see it as an opportunity to take a long weekend and enjoy a barbecue with friends, others recognise it as the day their country was invaded.
It is this conflicting view of the day which is seeing many, including Wagga local Steven Cook, calling for the date of the celebrations to be changed.
“I find it flabbergasting our national day, the day when we celebrate what is great about Australia, is celebrated on such a miserable day,” he said. "The history of that date is tainted because it’s a day of mourning for Indigenous people.”
Mr Cook is so passionate about the date-change, he has begun an online petition, which has gained almost 100 signatures in just a few days.
"Your never going to change the world with an online petition, but I just wanted a focal point to generate discussion and keep the ball rolling,” he said.
It is not just older generations who feel strongly about the date change, with CEO of the Wagga’s Aboriginal Land Community saying Indigenous youths were increasingly joining the conversation.
“For the young Indigenous community, their non-aboriginal friends are not friends on that day,” she said. “The young people definitely cannot deal with Australia Day on that date and changing the date would give us all the chance to celebrate this beautiful country without the negative implications.”
