strewth, fair dinkum, it's Australia Day, look you see. a day which weirdly, and perhaps a little frustratingly, does not get much acknowledgement or celebration around the world outside of the place, but here we are.
because everything on the internet must be true, and as for some reason people come here for information along those lines, a brief background on this date. many would assume that the date marks the arrival (and yes, some would say "invasion") of what we now know to be Australia by Captain James Cook. not quite. it rather marks the date of the first "proper" settlement (or if you are of such a mind occupation) of the British, with this date being the day (in 1788) that the then British flag was first flown in Sydney.
aye, yes, to be sure, that is i, resplendent in my boys brigade uniform, with my first and much beloved walkman on, in Australia. probably (or possibly) around one early 80s Australia Day (if so most likely 82 but maybe not).
perhaps (and this goes to the thinking in the brackets above) we don't celebrate or acknowledge Australia Day as much as we should, here in the UK at the least, due to the origins of the date. many say such a celebration would be a legacy of our "colonial past"; the "days of the Empire" and so forth. well, you know, fine, ok, that sort of makes sense, but also very much rejects the idea that Australia has done much of anything in some 200+ years of existence, and implies that the nation lives in the past too. no, it does not.
that there above is one of the most 100% purely Australian (except for the skateboard bits) albums one could play and enjoy to mark Australia Day in a subtle, dignified way. perhaps, maybe, yes, there are "bigger and/or better" Australian bands, and indeed it is possible that INXS did some work which was superior to this. but, for the sake of simply enjoying a solid rock album which never ever lets up in quality from start to end, Kick is extraordinary and excellent.
yes, it would be most splendid if those of a mind to culturally appropriate the assumed pain and suffering of people they did not know, dead long before they were born, could somehow get over themselves and live in the present. then we could just get on with celebrating all that is ace off of Australia. but, of course, they will not. getting outraged, angry and of course "offended" on behalf of others is a foundation of modern life. which is a shame, but whatever gets people through life, i guess.
it would be amiss of me not to reference Split Enz in any sort of celebration of Australia, despite the fact that the band are not particularly Australian. rather famously they are Kiwis off of New Zealand, but for some reason get associated with the nation next door. certainly it was in Australia that i became aware of them, for the group were (rightly) bloody massive there.
from Crocodile Dundee (with an ace song by Mental As Anything, top band) to Kylie, and of course also all the way from Castlemaine XXXX to Fosters via superb love, appreciation and performance in cricket, there is extremely little what Australia has thrown back at Britain (or if some wish to opt out, England) after raising that flag what we have not embraced. why would we not acknowledge such?
speaking of acknowledging, yes, that is indeed Spiros, the greatest legal mind of his generation, above. here he can be seen paying homage to a statue of Arthur Phillip, widely regarded and usually generally accepted as being the first Governor of Australia. one of the reasons why Spiros maintains a presence, or if you like "footprint" in London is because of this statue. at least i think that was what he said about it.
for some reason there are a few here in the UK (specifically England, once again, i suppose) who take it upon themselves to "join in" with our friends in America on their celebrations on 4th July each year. erm, yes. whilst we do indeed have good relations with them over the pond, i suspect that those who on the English end of the Atlantic engage in such a celebration might have missed the historical significance of it all. or, maybe not, as i have given up trying to understand how the modern world works, it is tricky enough just trying to deal with it. but, again, i am baffled as to why Australia Day gets routinely disregarded as a cause for celebration.
why not finish off this post with a gander at the greatest (non-cricket playing category) Australian of the modern era, which of course is widely agreed and accepted to be Jason Donovan. he is class him, and not just because he pioneers and popularised citrus based infused shampoo.
right, well, anyway, bruces and sheilas, i have taken up enough of your time in making whatever point it is i have here. many thanks indeed, as ever, for your reading and consideration of it all.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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