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Australia Day
News
Australia
Day Special, by Greg Tingle - 26th January 2011
G'day
and Happy Australia Day everyone. Ok, we know some
of you punters, journos, high rollers - casino whales,
entertainment news junkies, politicians, insiders,
outsiders and legal eagles are from across the globe
are not Australia, nor have ever been down under,
but you get the idea. Did you know that some indigenous
Australia's call Australia Day 'Invasion Day'! That's
because most history books show that Captain James
Cook and his crew invaded Australia on this day in
1988. They are known by a new names including the
First Fleet, while some aborigines will always think
of them and murderous mongrels, who stole their land
and pride. It's easy for many of us to get the point
of the blackfellas (affectionate). Media
Man and Gambling911
with a bush tucker bag full of Australian gambling,
casino, poker, media and sports news. Fair winds...
Queensland
Banana Bender State: Pub Pokies And Online Pokies
Becoming More Popular?...
One
armed bandits are maintaining their popularity in
'The Sunshine State'. It's understand that punters
might have only a 1 in a million chance of winning
really big, lotto - millionaire style, but they just
keep coming back for more. Yep, throw another dime
in the pokie baby. Queenslanders "invested"
close to $2 billion last year as the punters passion
for the slots maintained its fever pace. The total
pokies expenditure of $1.81 billion was slightly down
on the previous year, it was the third year consecutively
the number exceeded $1.8 billion. We're also learned
that the 2008 figure of $1.83 billion was an all-time
record. Now, this is important - those numbers Do
Not take into account the rabid take up and roll our
of online poker or sports betting. You know, betting
over the global medium - the internet. Overall, Queenslanders
spent $7 million less on pokies than last year and
$28 million less than in 2008, but it still works
out at in excess of $150 million every month down
the slots August was the year's biggest month for
slot gamblers, who put close to $170 million in the
throats of the one armed bandits. August was also
the biggest month for gamblers in 2008, with more
than $173 million lost. Pokies remain by far the most
popular games for punters in Australia, bringing in
most of the estimated $17 billion spent on all forms
of gambling down under each year. Some insiders think
that the reduction in official spending was more a
sign of the increased popularity of internet and sports-based
gambling. Concentrating on pokie figures, it appears
Queenslanders gambled more at the height of the global
financial crisis two years ago than they did throughout
2010.
Tassie
'Devil' Gambling Tycoon Devilish Quotes...
David
Walsh from Tasmania was such a big hit with the readership
we thought we would dig up a few more of the red hot
'The Devil's' quotes, that are too good not to share.
First a refresher...Art and gambling do mix, at least
that's the experience of Brits Damian Aspinall, Phil
'Tuffers' Tufnell, Australian artist Gina Sinozich,
Media Man
(bodypaint and burlesque "fetish") and Tasmanian
gambling whale - tycoon, David 'Wicked' (satire) Walsh.
You will pick up on Dave's affectionate nickname by
us later. We like you David, ok mate. Tasmania's most
famous or infamous gambling figure, millionaire, David
Walsh yesterday gave us a peak into his art exhibit...the
biggest (and weirdest) private art gallery in Tasmania,
if not the Asia Pacific. The $110 million Museum of
Old and New Art is nestled on the banks of Hobart's
Derwent River.
Quotes
By The Tasmanian Devil!...
"FUCK
the art, let's rock'n'roll."
"I
think formal curation is a form of mental masturbation."
"I'm
not really that interested in a bunch of big names.
Most of the works are by people most people haven't
heard of and still won't have heard of because there's
no wall labels."
"I
don't want to lose control (or) something that ends
up looking like a pale version of the National Gallery
of Victoria".
"Subversive
adult Disneyland".
"Please
see reception if you are planning a pool party or
a ritualistic orgy."
"It's
the opportunity to mess with your head. I like the
idea of people having a couple of beers and looking
at the art, having a couple more and changing their
mind."
"Just
a privileged guy with a megaphone"
"It’s
like a rich man’s soap box. I’m standing
on my soapbox and I’m shouting my views like
they mean something."
"I’ll
take all the popular stuff out. And if you go to the
toilet two or three times we’ll recommend a good
urologist."
“My
brother once said about me that I’d rather be
outside a barrel pissing in than inside the barrel
pissing out. I’m anti this idea that we know
what we’re doing with certainty. I kinda think
that most things that are good happen to people largely
by accident, but then they start looking for explanations.
You see the views of rich, successful people on television,
and they tell you why they got rich and successful;
they don’t interview all the people who went
through the same process and didn’t. I think
most things are complete crap. I want to show that
you can be fortunate without believing that your fortune
was anything other than fortune."
"There
are so many things we do that we hide from. We hack
open cows and eat their guts but we compartmentalise
that away from our lives so we can pretend it’s
not happening. And on a larger, more important scale,
if each of us acted individually to say ‘OK,
we f…ed up the atmosphere, it is our personal
responsibility’, humanity would behave in a very
different way."
"One
of the things about having money is that … I
feel a bit of guilt and a level of privilege, and
it seems to be an obligation to do something, and
since art is what I’ve been doing....but it wasn’t
really like that. It was: I bought this small gallery,
bought a bigger one, and gradually it became something
of this scale. It’s become a lot more serious
endeavour than I intended it to be. There’s a
bit of thumbing my nose at the establishment and trying
to bypass academia, but mainly I just wanted it to
be a bit of fun. And it is. And it will be."
"The
gambling is all a computer thing that is going on
right now".
Website
Museum
of Old and New Art
Queensland:
Cairns Reef Hotel Casino Poised To Raise Big Bucks
For Flood Relief On Australia Day...
Punters,
let's all spare a thought for those who have been
attacked by the floods on Australia Day. Numerous
events are being planed around Australia, from 'Sound
Relief' to and initiative from the Cairns Reef Hotel
Casino 'Bring on the Sun' It will be one of the biggest
events on the Australia Day calendar for the city
and all funds raised will go to the Premier’s
Flood Relief Appeal. There's a good old fashioned
sausage sizzle, competitions and female performers
including the Marlins’ cheer squad. "The
whole idea is slanted towards the female performer,"
entertainment manager Bruce Stewart said. "We’ve
got an eclectic blend of female artists coming to
perform as well." Cazalys, El Mundo Tapas Bar
and the Marlin Coast Bowls Club will also host events
to raise money for flood victims. Cairns Regional
Council will hold events across the region, including
the ever-popular celebrations on the Esplanade. Mayor
Val Schier said the council was expecting a good attendance
as usual with residents keen to get outside and celebrate
our sunburnt country in the green and gold. "Even
last year when it poured, a huge number of people
came to the Aussie breakfast; we expect the same will
happen this year, rain, hail or shine. It is one of
those days where people can come together as a community
and help celebrate why it is great to be an Australian.
We live in a fantastic country and it is good for
people to get out and enjoy it." Pubs and clubs
will also get into the Aussie spirit with a number
of activities on offer. Paradise Palms Resort and
Country Club has a patriotic, fun-filled day planned
with activities that pay homage to Australia’s
heritage such as the much-anticipated pie-eating competition.
"Everybody is welcome to come along and have
some fun while tucking into our Aussie selection of
meat pies, icy beers, lamingtons and classic Australian
music by DJ Danny from Millennium Sounds," director
of sales and marketing Darlene Holdsworth said.
Events
Join
the celebrations
Paradise
Palms Resort and Country Club Australia Day celebrations
What’s on: Australian menu served from noon in
Restaurant 59, pie-eating and thong-throwing competitions
start at 1.30pm. Pies, icy beers, lamingtons and classic
Australian music on offer at the resort.
Time: 12pm. Entry free.
Bring on the Sun at Cairns Reef Hotel Casino
What’s on: Entertainment, sausage sizzle, raffles,
jumping castle and more with all proceeds going to
the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal.
Time: 2pm. Entry free.
Shane Warne And Poker Mates Get VIP Star Treatment
At Australian Open Tennis Sunday Night...
The
spinner got there at 8pm hoping to get star VIP treatment
for 14 of his closest mates. In the mix was was Joe
Hachem, who he had earlier caught up with at the launch
of the Aussie Millions Poker Tournament at Crown Casino.
Warne requested an escort (no, not that type silly)
when he arrived and posed mostly for photographs with
his sunglasses on. He also spent time in Andy Roddick's
player's box during his loss to Swissman Stanislas
Wawrinka. It been a big couple of days for "poker
her" for the legend, playing rendezvous with
Liz Hurley in LA. He is expected to play in the second
round of the poker tournament and could face off against
Gary Ablett Jr and Jeff Fenech tomorrow. Blett made
it through to the second round.
Australian Financial Review Goes Gaga For Lady Gaga;
Gets Facts Wrong (We Think)...
It
took us a few months of going through newspapers but
we finally found the AFR to make a slip up, and its
a doozy....An article reads "the complex will
have a few upmarket bars, including one on the roof,
and an events theatre to house live acts – think
Lady Gaga – as well as awards nights." With
Gaga's level of popularity she would require a much
larger venue than Star City. Earlier this year, she
- they played two concerts at the Sydney Entertainment
Centre, capacity 12,000 or thereabouts. Do the math.
Australia's
Kylie Minogue To Do The Colosseum At Caesars Palace
Las Vegas: Aphrodite Live...
Mark
is down Kylie fans the word over. She's doing Ceasers
Sunday May 22, 2011 8pm
Melbourne: Aussie Joker Comedian Performs At Packer's
Crown; Raises Cash For Flood Relief...
Melbourne
folks at Crown Casino recently enjoyed 'The Jokers
Comedy That Rocks' at Crown Casino. James Packer's
casino donated all proceeds from last Friday night’s
show to Queensland flood victims. Organiser William
Leitch has happy with the way things went and showcased
an evening with some of the city’s top stand-up
artists, including Brad Oakes, Christine Basil and
Greg Fleet. It's understood he got close to 150 people
to come along, and he may be invited back on upcoming
Friday nights.
Top 100 ASX Listed Companies Respond To Flood Cry
For Help; Gambling And Gaming Industry Steps Up; Mining
Firms and Banking Bastards Lead Charge...
1.
BHP Billiton: $1.3 million (in addition, matching
employee donations)
2.
CBA: $1.35 million
3.
Westpac: $1 million
4.
ANZ: $1 million
5.
NAB: $1 million
6.
News Corp: $500,000 and Blue Ribbon campaign
7.
Rio Tinto: $1 million ($700,000 to Premier Relief,
$300,000 to Emerald community)
8.
Wesfarmers: $7.5 million (plus $3.5 million from Coles
customers)
9.
Telstra Corp: up to $1 million by matching staff contributions
(so far $338,000; is also supplying phones and free
calls to people affected)
10.
Woolside Petroleum: $122,395 (corporate + employees)
11.
Woolworths: $6.9 million (matching customer donations
in Woolies, Big W, Dick Smith dollar for dollar)
14.
Fortescue Metals: Matching staff donations dollar
for dollar
15.
CSL: $250,000
16.
QBE Insurance: not releasing a statement
17.
Origin energy: $1 million
18.
Macquarie Group: $200,000 (combined staff and company
effort with fundraising activities continuing both
here and overseas)
19.
AXA Asia Pacific: No response
20.
Santos: $500,000 plus use of helicopters and vehicles
for clean up. Also $50,000 for flooding in WA
21.
Coal and Allied Industries: (see Rio Tinto)
22.
AMP: $250,000 + matching employee contributions to
WA flood appeal up to $250,000
23.
Suncorp Group: $100,000 (staff and customers have
donated $1.5million)
24.
Foster's Group: $500,000
25.
Brambles: No response
26.
Leighton Holdings: No response
27.
Orica: No response
28.
Oil Search: No response
29.
Stockland: Donated $250,000 to the Premier's flood
relief appeal, another $30,000 to the Mayoress Rockhampton
regional flood appeal and are matching employee donations
dollar for dollar
30.
Coca. Cola Amatil: No response
31.
Amcor: No response
32.
Westfield Retail Trust: No response
33.
IAG: No response
39.
Crown: Donation tins in Crown complexes and have committed
to matching all donations as well as staff contributions
52.
Tabcorp Holdings: $1 million
78.
Tatts Group: Going to run a dedicated lottery for
the Queensland flood appeal where all profits will
go to the Premier's Flood Appeal. They ran the same
thing in Victoria after the Black Saturday bushfires.
It will run on Wednesday 2 Feb in Queensland and is
expected to raise $200,000. In addition, another donation
will be made from the unclaimed prizes fund of an
as. yet undecided amount
79.
Fairfax Media: Matching staff donations
100.
Seek: Reported it had made a donation to the Premier's
Flood Appeal but chose not to disclose how much
Brisbane:
Flood Relief Money Gets Spend On Pokies, Vice - Piss
Up At Pubs...
It's
been reported in a number of Queensland newspapers
that the $1000 flood relief grants that went to many
good folks in Granville are being used to feed slots
and buy piss (beer) rather than food and necessities.
Two Maryborough publicans say that in some instances
the answer to that is yes, and they are disgusted.
One of the publicans was so incensed by the misuse
of flood relief money she telephoned Fairfax Media
to complain. "A man came in bragging about how
he’d got the $1000 payout because he told Centrelink
he was stuck in Granville – but he was here the
whole time. It makes me sick that people are openly
admitting they’ve got the money for nothing,
while there are people who’ve died or lost everything."
She said Centrelink should have screened the applications
more carefully to make sure only people who were genuinely
in need received the cash. Another pub owner said
his one armed bandits had not stopped buzzing since
the grants became available. "We were quiet during
the actual floods but this week’s been totally
different. The pokies and the bottle shop have been
going non-stop." Yeah, Aussie continue to love
a punt, rain, hail, shine or flood!
Aussie
Millions Game 8 Results...
The
London based chap took down the $1,100 8 game mixed
event title at Crown Casino in Melbourne adding AUD$23,800
to his almost $1.2 million in career tournament earnings.
He entered the final table as the short stack, but
managed to grind his way to victory and nudge away
Australia's Bruno Portaro for the victory. The event
marked Ashby's 8th final table appearance at the Aussie
Millions that includes a side-event win back in 2005
and a seventh-place finish in the main event in 2009.
Ashby also won his first WSOP bracelet this summer
in the $1,500 7 Card Stud event and went well in the
$10k H.O.R.S.E. for his biggest career score of $378,027.
The 2011 Aussie Millions $1,100 8-Game Mixed event
drew 68-players and paid the final 7.
Here
are the results:
1 Richard Ashby AUD$23,800
2 Bruno Portaro AUD$16,320
3 Casey Kastle AUD$10,880
4 Daniel Ospina AUD$6,800
5 Oliver Gill AUD$4,760
6 Dane Coltman AUD$3,400
7 Paul Ravesi AUD$2,040
Aussie
Main Event Day 1b: PartyPoker And Full Tilt Poker
Players Feel The Pain...
PartyGaming's
PartyPoker
and Full Tilt Poker's powers that be likely won't
be celebrating. Ok, they got news coverage and exposure,
but its because their players are out. Yep, history
maties. Full Tilt went well on Day 1a but Day 1b was
rooted. Many of the big name pros went down for the
count as locals stepped up. 209 players entered the
Crown Poker room but after 7 levels of play, 80 remained.
David Oppenheim, Annette Obrestad, Carlos Mortensen,
David Benyamine, Andrew Feldman, Steve Yea, Andy Bloch
and Gus Hansen were some of the Full Tilt players
who died. Other casualties included Luke Santo, Raj
Ramakrishnan, George Moussa, Michael Pedley, Graeme
Putt, Martin Comer, Dennis Huntly, Jamie Pickering,
Bruno Portaro, Casey Kastle, Ben Savage and Tim Marsters.
2005 World Champion Joe Hachem (tweeting he struggled
with jetlag following a recent trip to the PokerStars
Caribbean Adventure.) Defending champ, 2010 Aussie
Millions Main Event winner Tyron Krost (PartyGaming's
PartyPoker
pro went down too). A new champ will be crowned in
2011 with plenty of Aussies still in contention. The
field kicked off with Jeff Rossier in the lead with
154,900, closely followed by Michael Ottobra (143,400)
and Martin Drewe, After winning the Opening Event
last week and going deep in another event, Drewe is
now set in the chip leaders in the Main Event after
getting to 136,100. Jay “SEABEAST” Kinkade
did nicely with 128,700, Haibo Chu (113,900), Manny
Stavropoulos (85,600), Sorel Mizzi (74,400), Michael
Egan (61,100), Kent Hunter (56,400), Jeff Lisandro
(55,000), Eric Assadourian (50,300), Scott Montgomery
(49,200), Chris Ferguson (45,400), Lee Nelson (30,200),
Neil Channing (28,800), Roland de Wolfe (26,100),
Aleks Brkovic (24,600), Jackie Glazier (21,900), Grant
Levy (18,300), Gary Benson (10,500) and Mel Judah
(7,200) amongst those who will return on Day 2. The
3rd and final flight of the 2011 Aussie Millions Main
will commence Tuesday with another strong field and
a few big names expected. Even Van Marcus will front
up. Van, is your Red Ferrari safe this time mate?
We're looking for more good fodder to write about.
How about do a publicity stunt and make world wide
headlines ago. Maybe someone at Crown Casino - Crown
Limited might be open to it. Stanger things have happened...
like Ferrari's getting stolen on site, casino fights
and a man getting stuck in the Crown Casino kitchen
grease vacuum.
Aussie
Millions Event #9 Day 1b: Rossiter In Front...
It
was down to business with players investing AUD$10,600
to buy in all with the goal of becoming the 2011 Aussie
Millions Champion. 7 seven levels of play, and the
209-player field went to 80. Jeff Rossiter is in front
with 154,900. Martin Drewe, 2011 Aussie Millions Event
#1 winner with 136,100 - now 3rd on the leaderboard.
Australian Jay Kinkade is on 128,700, and European
Poker Tour mainstay Jeff Sarwer sits 5th with 120,500.
Randy "nanonoko" Lew has 110,000 and Gavin
Griffin 101,700 in 9th ninth and 10th place. Sorel
Mizzi, Jeffrey Lisandro, Eric Assadourian, Team Full
Tilt's Chris Ferguson, Full Tilt Poker Red Pros Scott
Montgomery and Roland de Wolfe, Neil Channing, and
Lee Nelson have also all made it to Wednesday's Day
2, but it was touch and go for some of them, testing
the skill VS luck debate. Full Tilt Poker $25,000
Shootout Invitational winner David Oppenheim, Annette
Obrestad, Carlos Mortensen, Andy Bloch, David Benyamine,
Andrew Feldman, Gus Hansen, Joe Hachem, and David
Steicke all had to say goodnight nurse. PartyGaming's
- PartyPoker
Tyron Krost was eliminated in a hand VS Gavin Griffin
where his Ace-Queen couldn't best Griffin's Aces.
The 3rd and final Day 1 flight commences Tuesday in
Melbourne, Australia at 12:30 p.m. local time.
Getting
board of poker yet? If so, try your luck er skill
at Baccarat or Craps. If your more into luck, check
out the slots like Cleopatra, Sinatra, Rambo, Goanna
Gold and The Terminator. Rumour goes PartyGaming
also have, or will soon get, a World
Poker Tour themed online slot game. We recommend
punters open an account with PartyCasino,
PartyGaming
and World
Poker Tour, just to have all based covered. Party
appears to still be the most popular online casino
brand in Australia despite big efforts by the likes
of 888. Marvel
slot games are forecast to be some of the most
popular of this year with Captain
America and Thor
tipped to hit Australia cinema's this year, with Spider-Man
also getting a remake. Whatever your casino game of
choice, good luck, and let us know how you go guys
and girls. Spin to win.
Take
the time to research and learn games before placing
down money
Media
Man, Casino
News Media and Gambling911
are website portals. Not casinos as such, however
are recognised as world leading websites that cover
the sector and act as central points to games, news,
reviews and more.
Readers...
er, punters, how did you like our report? Tell us
in the forum.
If
you have a bet, please bet with your head, not over
it, and for God's sake, have fun.
*Greg
Tingle is a special contributor for Gambling911
*Media
Man is primarily a media, publicity and internet
portal development company. Gaming is just one of
a dozen sectors covered
Australia
Day, celebrated annually on 26 January, is the official
national day of Australia, commemorating the establishment
of the first European settlement on the continent
of Australia. The date is that of the foundation of
a British penal colony at Sydney Cove on Port Jackson,
New South Wales, by Captain Arthur Phillip, who was
to become the first Governor. Australia Day is an
official public holiday in all states and territories
of Australia, and has also been known as Anniversary
Day, Foundation Day and Invasion Day.
On
Australia Day each year, the Prime Minister announces
the winner of the Australian of the Year award, presented
to an Australian citizen who has shown a "significant
contribution to the Australian community and nation",
and is an "inspirational role model for the Australian
community". Subcategories of the award include
"Young" and "Senior Australian of the
Year", and an award for the "Australian
Local Hero".
Records
of the celebration of Australia Day date back to 1808,
and in 1818, Governor Lachlan Macquarie held the first
official celebration of Australia Day. In 2004, an
estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day
celebrations and functions across the country.
History
On
13 May 1787, a fleet of 11 ships captained by Arthur
Phillip, which came to be know as the First Fleet,
was sent by the British Admiralty from England to
Australia, to established a penal colony at Botany
Bay on the coast of New South Wales, explored by Captain
James Cook in 1770. The settlement was seen as necessitated
by the loss of colonies in North America. Captain
Phillip found Botany Bay unsuitable and with two ships
proceeded up the coast to Port Jackson, which he declared
"the finest harbour in the world". The site
decided upon for the first settlement was at a location
where there was a potable stream of water, and some
level land, unlike much of the steep and rugged foreshore.
By 26 January 1788, the fleet was at anchor in Sydney
Cove, the male convicts were unshipped and the flag
was raised in the name of King George III.
On
26 January 1808, the day was celebrated as "First
Landing" or "Foundation Day", the colony
having survived for twenty years, despite the initial
hardships, deprivation and starvation suffered by
the First Fleet settlers. The celebrations began at
sundown on the 25th January, and lasted into the night,
the chief toast of the occasion being Major George
Johnston, who had had the honour of being the first
officer ashore from the First Fleet, having been carried
from the landing boat on the back of convict James
Ruse, the colony's first successful farmer. On the
following day, 26th January 1808, George Johnston,
despite suffering the ill-effects of a fall from his
gig on the way home to Annadale, was at the head of
the officers of the New South Wales Corps to arrest
Governor Bligh in the Rum Rebellion.
In
1818, the 30th anniversary, Governor Macquarie had
a 30-gun salute at Dawes Point and gave government
workers a holiday - a tradition that was soon followed
by banks and other public offices.
In
1888 all colonial capitals (with the exception of
Adelaide) celebrated 'Anniversary Day' and by 1935
all states of Australia were celebrating 26 January
as Australia Day (although it was still known as Anniversary
Day in New South Wales).
The
1938 sesquicentenary (150th anniversary) of British
settlement in Australia was widely celebrated. Preparations
began in 1936 with the formation of a Celebrations
Council. In that year, New South Wales was the only
state to abandon the traditional long weekend and
the annual Anniversary Day public holiday was held
on the actual anniversary day - Wednesday 26 January.
In
1946 the Commonwealth and State governments agreed
to unify the celebrations on 26 January as 'Australia
Day', although the public holiday was instead taken
on the Monday closest to 26 January.
Since
1994 all states and territories have celebrated Australia
Day on 26 January. If Australia Day occurs on a weekend,
however, a public holiday is observed on the nearest
Monday.
Australia Day 1988
The
celebration of 200 years since the arrival of the
First Fleet was organised on a large scale, with many
significant events taking part in all major cities,
but particularly in Sydney. The events included street
parties, concerts, including performances on the steps
and forecourt of the Sydney Opera House and at many
other public venues, art and literary competitions,
historic re-enactments, the opening of the Powerhouse
Museum at its new location. A fleet of eleven sailing
ships of similar size to those of the First Fleet
anchored in Farm Cove and there was a re-enactment
of the arrival of the first European settlers.
One
of the biggest aspects of the celebration was the
invitation to other nations to take part in a yacht
race, and a parade of sail. The Sydney to Hobart Yacht
Race is an annual event, commencing in Sydney Harbour
on Boxing Day, with competing yachts sailing down
the coast to the southernmost state capital of Hobart
in Tasmania. However, the 1987 Boxing Day start was
cancelled, the race commencing in Hobart in mid January,
and sailing north, rather than south, in order to
finish in Sydney. The invitation attracted not only
yachts but tall ships from all over the world, many
of which assembled first at Fremantle, Western Australia.
The ships included the "Juan Sebastian d'Elcano",
from Spain, the "Eagle" from the United
States, the "Gorch Foch" from Germany, the
"Friendship" from Poland, the "Nipon
Maru" from Japan, the "Varuna" from
India, and many others including the United Kingdom's
gift to Australia, the sail-traing vessel, "Young
Endeavour". To the cheers of watchers on the
bridge in Darling Harbour, on the evening of the 21st
January, the "Young Endeavour" was the first
of her class to finish the Hobart to Sydney race.
On the afternoon of Australia Day, there was a parade
of vessels on Sydney Harbour, which included all the
tall ships, Sydney's historic steamships, and thousands
of smaller craft of every description.
The Aboriginal response
In
January 1988, the indigenous people of Australia made
a concerted effort to promote an awareness among other
Australians of their presence, their perceived needs,
and their desire that there should be communication,
reconciliation and co-operation over the matter of
landrights. To this purpose, during January, they
set up a highly-visible Tent Embassy at a shoreside
location at a point called Mrs Macquarie's Chair adjacent
to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. The embassy,
of several large marquees and smaller tents, was manned
by a group of Aboriginal people from Everleigh Street,
Redfern, and was organised with the co-operation of
the local council's department of parks and gardens.
It became a gathering place for Aboriginal people
from all over Sydney. One of the aims of the embassy
was to be seen by the many thousands of "Sydneysiders"
who did not know, and rarely saw an aboriginal person.
Among the outspoken supporters of the Aboriginal people,
and a visitor to the tent embassy, was the Anglican
Dean of Sydney, Lance Shilton.
As
part of the consolidation of the Aboriginal people,
many people from remote parts of Australia, from the
far north, and from the Central Desert, travelled
to Sydney, where they were welcomed at the embassy,
and accommodated by the Aboriginal community at La
Perouse. There was a tremendous elation among the
local community, many of whom felt detached from their
roots, because the "initiated elders" had
come among them. One of the elders whose presence
was particularly anticipated was the landrights activist
Vincent Lingiari, but unfortunately, he died on route
to Sydney, on the 21st January. His death was commemorated
by the ringing of the bells at the Sydney church of
St. Stephen's, Newtown.
A
great gathering, with a variety of speakers was organised
in Hyde Park, Sydney, on the afternoon of Australia
Day. The entire day passed peacefully, with only a
few isolated incidents and very few arrests.
Australia
Day is a national day and public holiday. For some
years the holiday was held on the closest Monday,
to provide a long weekend. It is now held on the actual
anniversary, with that day being the public holiday.
The
National Australia Day Council (NADC) is the coordinating
body for the Australian of the Year Awards and Australia
Day celebrations across the nation. The NADC heads
a network of state and territory Australia Day affiliate
organisations and local Australia Day committees.
Australia
Day is marked by civic celebrations around the country,
including the Order of Australia and Australian of
the Year awards for outstanding achievement. Air Force
aerial displays are held in some capital cities. In
Sydney the ferry race and tall ships race has become
tradition, along with a surfing race across the harbour.
Citizenship
ceremonies are also held on Australia Day. The Australia
Day Achievement Medallion is awarded to citizens based
on excellence in both government and non-government
organisations. Customarily, the Prime Minister will
make an address to the nation.
Fireworks
celebrations are held in many towns and cities around
the country. The Perth Lotterywest Skyworks display
is billed as the largest Australia Day celebration
in the country, with more than a third of the city's
population (around 500,000 estimated for the 2006
Skyworks) lining the river foreshore for the display.
The
Australian music scene enjoys a significant event
on Australia Day - the Triple J Hottest 100. The Sydney
leg of the Big Day Out music festival has also traditionally
occurred on Australia Day. In 2007 the event was held
on 25 January due to the flag ban controversy at the
event. There is also often a one day cricket match
such as the 2006 Australia Day match in Adelaide.
In Canberra the Australia Day Live Concert takes place
where the Australian of the Year is announced.
Suggested changes to the date
Some
have suggested making ANZAC Day Australia's national
day, or changing to 1 January, commemorating 1 January
1901 when Australia's six colonies federated into
one nation. Each of the alternatives raised also poses
problems — ANZAC Day because many war veterans
believe that it is their day, and that it is also
a public holiday in New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue,
Samoa and Tonga, while 1 January is already a public
holiday and is in the middle of the Christmas holiday
season. 9 May is also sometimes suggested, being the
date the first Federal Parliament was opened in 1901.
Many
supporters of the continued use of Australia Day as
Australia's national day point out that 26 January
commemorates an actual historical event, similar to
ANZAC Day, Bastille Day in France, Canada Day in Canada,
Independence Day in the United States, and Republic
Day in India.
A
recent advertising campaign for Australian Lamb, featuring
Sam Kekovich, was promoting the extension to Australia
day, to Australia Week.
Criticism and alternative celebrations
To
some Aboriginal Australians and sympathisers, the
idea of celebrating the anniversary of the arrival
of the British has been seen as incongruous with the
adverse effects British settlement had on Australia's
indigenous people. The sesquicentenary celebrations
in 1938 were accompanied by an Aboriginal Day of Mourning.
A large gathering of Aboriginal people in Sydney in
1988 led to yearly "Invasion Day" commemoration
marking the loss of indigenous culture. The anniversary
is also known as "Survival Day" and marked
by events such as the Survival Day concert first held
in Sydney in 1992, celebrating the fact that the indigenous
people and culture have not been completely wiped
out.
In
response, official celebrations have tried to include
indigenous people, holding ceremonies such as the
Woggan-ma-gule ceremony honouring the past and celebrating
the present in Sydney in 2006, involving the New South
Wales Governor and Indigenous Australians. (Credit:
Wikipedia).
News
Australia
Day 2008
Media
Man Australia was delighted to meet with representatives
from Waverley Council and The Department of the Environment
at Bondi Beach, Sydney.
A
plane towed an Australian flag over Bondi Beach and
later, "Sorry" sky writing was to be seen,
in recognition of Indigenous Australia
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