The Anniversary of European Settlement Day.
This well known date marks the arrival at Sydney Cove in 1778, of the British "First Fleet" under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip.
Captain Phillip's commission and appointment as Governor of the territory called New South Wales had been given at the Court of St James on the 12th of October 1786, under the authority of Lord Sydney of England.
Lord Sydney had corresponded to the Lords Commission of the Treasury in August 1786.-
"The several gaols and places for confinement of felons in the Kingdom being in so crowded a state that the greatest danger is to be apprehended, not only from their escape, but from infectious distempers, which may hourly be expected to break out amongst them, his Majesty, desirous of preventing by every possible means the ill consequences which might happen from either of these causes, has been pleased to signify to me his royal commands that measures should immediately be pursued for sending out of this Kingdom such of the convicts as are under sentence of transportation. His Majesty has thought it advisable to fix upon Botany Bay."
On arrival at Sydney Cove and raising the British flag Governor Phillip acclaimed:-
"I do not doubt but this country will prove the most valuable acquisition Great Britain ever made. We have come here today to take possession of this fifth great continental division of the earth on behalf of the British people and have founded here a state which we hope will not only occupy and rule this great country but will also become the beneficial patron of all the nations of the Southern Hemisphere. How grand is the prospect which lies before this youthful nation."
The founding of a "state" as proclaimed by Governor Phillip was the introduction of the British State onto this Southern Land. The beginning of European settlement.
Whilst this first settlement was not of itself Australian, or intended to aid the development of an Australian Nation, being the transfer of English penal society to Australian soil, it is an event from our European history that is of particular significance to native Australians.
With the growth of Australian "Nativism" - the blending of the cultures of our European pioneers, and exposure to our continents unique environment over the following decades, came the idea of upholding a National Day to advance the cause of Australia, and in particular to provide an expression of patriotism.
January 26th was already being upheld in the separate colonies to varying degrees and under a variety of celebrations as European Settlement Day, Pioneers Day and Anniversary Day.
Foremost in the cause for an official national day was the influential Australian Natives Association [ANA], formed in 1871 as the Victorian Natives Association, in conjunction with the Australian Patriotic Society of Sydney. The ANA was a mutual help society with a secondary aim "to promote the moral, social and intellectual improvement of its members." The association numbered many Establishment type figures of prominence, Knights of the British Realm, parliamentarians and the judiciary, together with ordinary well meaning citizens, but where Empire loyalty tendered to be promoted as the basis for Australian sentiment.
The ANA became a leading light in the colonial society infusing many of its views and principles into the population. In the face of the ad hoc manner of celebrations for 26th January, the ANA in seeking to inspire national spirit, passed a resolution at its 1886 Melbourne conference:-
"That a National Holiday be fixed and that 26 January be suggested as the most desirable date, that being the anniversary of the Foundation of Australia."
This resolution occurred in living memory of the Eureka Stockade of 3rd December 1854, later described by Mark Twain on his visit to Australia in 1897 as - "the finest thing in Australian history".
That Eureka was the most profound event on our continent since European settlement is indisputable.
The sacrifice of the diggers who were massacred at Bakery Hill, Ballarat, forced extensive reforms from the colonial authority. Citizens voting rights, paid parliamentary representation, tax reform and the opportunity to own land were paid for in BLOOD. Never before or since on this continent have such far reaching reforms arisen out of a peoples endeavour.
The fight at Eureka, where men stood together not as citizens of the old nations of Europe, but as Australians under a uniquely Australian flag, consecrated the national destiny of Australia as a new European society. The Eureka struggle today would be called the epitome of people power.
The deliberate overlooking of our indigenous heritage of 3rd December, as the anniversary for celebrating OUR National Day, in favour of the date of claiming our continent for Britain, can only be understood as an expression of the empire loyalty that permeated the ANA from its Establishment members.
Nevertheless the promotion of the National Day as resolved was beset with difficulty, not only from the colonial authorities but also with inspiring a recognition from the ordinary citizen.
It should be remembered in the latter part of the 19th century, the native born comprised over 75% of the population, yet the lack of interest from citizens even then indicates the date 26th January, could not inflame the national spirit.
The colonial authorities had no interest in seeing the onset of genuine Australian consciousness, however the rise of republicanism from the Sydney "Bulletin" Magazine, the growth of industrial unionism and the blooming of our Australian culture, assisted in colonialism commencing to be replaced by Australian fervour in the population.
In 1887 the colonial authorities agreed to a national day holiday on 26th January under a celebration to be known as Foundation Day and which continued for some years.
After Federation in 1901, a sop to Australians that simply formalised the colonies into a larger "outpost of Empire" instead of creating an independent nation, attempts were made by the State Government of Queensland to commemorate a national day for Queen Victoria's birthday of 24th May, and the Government of New South Wales argued for proclamation of Federation on 1st January to be the national day.
In the latter part of the first decade of this century some State Governments refused to gazette the national holiday for January 26th, still generally known under a variety of names from Foundation Day, Pioneers Day or ANA Day.
Over the ensuing years with the energetic efforts of the ANA, and patriotic people, the celebration gradually became known as Australia Day, although New South Wales held to Anniversary Day until 1945.
This historical context is worth reflecting on when viewing the Australian peoples present focus on 26th January as the National Day, which in the main is one of apathy and general disinterest.
The truth is that matters of patriotic significance can only accrue from historical events in the national consciousness, and the promotion of the British First Fleets landing on 26th January as the National Day lacks that depth of meaning for Australians for it does not represent "the founding of Australia."
January 26th should be upheld as a day of special significance to native Australians, but truthfully as the Commemoration of European Settlement on Australian soil.
Continuing to uphold a national day for 26th January is now under the auspices of Government sponsored Australia Day Committees, appointment of members restricted to citizens and organisations compliant with our Quisling politicians plans for social engineering of Australian society.
The ANA has been ejected as the major promoter and sponsor on account of formerly opposing unassimilable third world immigration to Australia.
Sadly, this has led to the format of celebrations, which from inception were at least to signify a unified people, now turned into a divisive, anti-Australian multicultural farce, and an excuse to issue citizenship largely to unwanted alien immigrants dumped into our society.
Multiculturalism is no culture for it has no unifying purpose, no goals, no common heritage. A divided people with no bond of identity and culture, necessary to form a community, will not survive the 21st century.
Multiculturalism, which relegates our own culture to being worthless and disposable, is an insult to the memory of our pioneering generations, their descendants and all real Australians. It is a tool of international business to create a resource devouring polyglot populace, compliant for submerging into our "Asian future", all for profits.
To admit aliens who have played no part whatsoever in creating our society, and will never be Australians completes the prostitution of what January 26th has now become.
In place of this fraud Australian Nationalists will ensure that JANUARY 26TH is a day for NATIONAL FOLKLORIC CELEBRATION, to be known in our historical context as EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT DAY, reflecting our European civilisation.
But no longer will our National Day second guess Australia!
AUSTRALIA'S NATIONAL DAY will be observed as
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUREKA STOCKADE.
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