real australians say welcome

A project to be celebrated at a time when asylum seekers - and migrants in general - are being treated appallingly; and when current global shifts are dislocating millions of people. 

becoming an australian

So proud of K; she is now an Australian citizen. The ceremony was in Sydney Town Hall and was a fabulous mix of the serious, amateur and surreal which I found completely touching. About 500 people from all around the world becoming Australians, and being welcomed by politicians using it as a chance to have a dig at Tony Abbott by calling for much more support for refugees.

Interesting to see how nations decide to define their identity at these moments. This one involved the Mayor, a small kind-of-jazz band playing Waltzing Matilda, a group pledge, the handing over of certificates with official photograph-takaing, and then a jolly version of Advance Australia Fair followed by tea and 'typical' Australian cakes. Which are lamingtons, anztac biscuits and miniature pavlovas. I think of these as Aussie 'battler' foods, by which I mean, poor people's comfort foods. So lamingtons are squares of stale victoria sponge, made palatable by rolling in cocoa powder and desiccated coconut (both dried foods that could be kept for ages in remote ranch kitchens). And all the Australians I know feel incredibly nostalgic about them. 

patriotism?

Of course, Australia Day is slightly complicated; because it celebrates the arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships in 1788, it also marks the invasion of Aboriginal lands - so has been a key moment for demonstrations by indigenous peoples and their supporters.

As an attempt to circumvent such difficulties, the media seems to focus on the positive side of citizenship, printing lots of feel-good interviews with immigrants telling us just how much they love this country, and how good it has been to them.  Was talking to a friend from work, J, about the wholesale appearance of goods of all types with the Australian flag on them. These days, she suggests, people wear the flag without any thought; when she was younger it was a much more problematic symbol (and looking patriotic was definitely not cool).


For an alternative version of the Straya national anthem click here. And note (unfortunately) all the White comments that follow. For the original - "Advance Australia Fair" - not an easy singalong, I'm afraid, click here. 

straya day

Can you believe it. Australia Day, a public holiday and this is the beach at Coogee. Not a barbie in sight. Rained off just like English bank holidays (made me feel quite at home).