From the coast to the outback, Queensland communities are gearing up to either mark Australia Day with celebration or attend Invasion day rallies to show their support for First Nations peoples.
On the banks of the Noosa River, the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club will be hosting an Australia Day celebration at Lions Park from 10am to 4pm for a day filled with family-friendly fun, sponsored by Noosa Council, Tewantin Noosa RSL, Woolworths and Pet Barn.
On the flip-side, thousands of First Nations peoples and allies are set to show their support for First Nations peoples at the Meanjin (Brisbane) Invasion Day rally and walk on Sunday 26 January.
The rally will begin at Brisbane Square (near the large silver ball art installation) at 10am, before joining the rally at the nearby Queen’s Park.
This year, the Sunshine Coast’s third Invasion Day procession will be taking place, hosted by the First Nations Action Network.
On Sunday 26 January, attendees will assemble from 9am at Foundation Square (Sunshine Coast City Hall) Maroochydore.
“Bring your family, bring your friends and bring your neighbours to commemorate the true history of this country,” the event organisers said.
At 10am, the community will lead a 1.5km procession to Cotton Tree Park where they will gather for an open mic and time for the community to network.
First Nations communities are diverse, and as such, there are a range of views about this date.
Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples call for the date to be changed, some would prefer 26 January to be renamed and reframed as a Day of Mourning – and others call for the Australia Day to be abolished.
Here’s what some Noosa locals, who have written letters to the editor of Noosa Today Newspaper, are saying about the date in 2025.
John Burrows said, “Surely we can’t continue with 26 January as our national day when it’s so disrespectful, offensive and hurtful to Indigenous citizens.”
“The current date commemorates an invading power setting up a prison camp to detain petty criminals, overseen by soldiers many of whom themselves went on to commit criminal acts.
“Other nations celebrate more meaningful and glorious events – independence from a colonial power, or liberation from a repressive regime, or in the case of New Zealand, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
“For First Nations Australians, the current Australia Day marks the loss of independence and liberty, not to mention destruction of culture in many places, and there is no national Treaty in sight.
“There are better dates to celebrate. I suggest one which unified and thrilled people across the country – 25 September, 2004. This was when Aboriginal sprinter Cathy Freeman won the 400 metres gold medal at the Olympics, held on Gadigal land not far from where the First Fleet landed with its sorry shiploads of convicts and guards in 1788.
“Celebrating this date simultaneously acknowledges First Nations peoples and pays homage to our status as a sports-loving nation, and is a far less divisive choice for Australia’s national day.”
Patricia Mullins said there are lots of historical reasons why 26 January is not an appropriate date for Australia Day.
“The First Fleet didn’t arrive then, it arrived on the 18th, 19th, 20th in Botany Bay. The 26th January is when the decision to move to Sydney Harbour was made. The British Annexation ceremony wasn’t until 1 February 1788. There was no Australia until the six British colonies federated 113 year later on 1 January 1901,” Patricia said.
“By changing the problematic divisive date to 25 September as suggested, we’ll be back on the track to the inclusion of all Australians, that we lost sight of, when the Uluru Statement from the Heart was rejected 60 per cent – 40 per cent in the Referendum. A small change of 11 per cent would have produced a different result.
“We can’t change the institutional racism embedded in our Constitution for now but we can act like its not there and continue taking the important steps we’ve already taken – like saying Yes 90.77 per cent to 9.23 per cent in the 1967 Referendum to count the First Nations people in the Census – like having the flags of the three separate nations who co-exist in our continent.
“It’s ironic how the song ‘We are Australian’ written by the Seekers which includes every type of Australian, especially the chorus line ‘l am, you are, we are Australian’ strikes a chord in our hearts but we haven’t managed to turn it into reality yet. What a great easy to sing National Anthem it would make.
“Colonization and invasion are like two sides of the same coin. How we experience it depends on which side faces up for us. We need a date that 100 per cent of Australians can celebrate as we did that day Cathy Freeman won the Gold.”
Ernest Wright said changing Australia Day was just the preference of the person suggesting it.
“To try to change my birthdate being over 80 plus would be a problem as both my parents insist I was found under a gooseberry bush,” he said.
Garry Reynolds said the words of invitation to Australia Day on Sydney Harbour are to reflect, respect and celebrate together.
“At dawn, the Opera House sails will be lit with an Aboriginal artwork in a quiet time to recall our country’s unfolding story told in many voices across countless generations,” he said.
“It continues that dawn is more than just another sunrise. It is a moment where we can draw courage and inspiration from each other and commit to shaping Australia into a place of unity and inclusion for all who call it home.
“Joined by our resilience, mateship and sense of community, we can look forward with optimism and unity to the future and to the opportunities we can create together.
“That’s not only the type of Australia Day I want but the kind of Australia for all Australians no matter what the date.”
Noosa local and celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita is set to join Miguel Maestre and former Olympian Brooke Hanson OLY OAM in Brisbane for a day of food and culture at the Great Australian Bites event at South Bank.
There will also be 39 notable Queenslanders travelling across the state to participate in 38 council events, sharing their inspiring stories as part of the Australia Day Ambassador program.
Premier David Crisafulli said Australia Day was meaningful for every Queenslander.
“Australia Day is an annual reminder of just how lucky we all are to call this great country home,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“It’s a special day for me, as the son of a migrant I think of my late grandfather who came to this country with nothing more than a dream, and an attitude of rolling up his sleeves and getting to work.
“This is a place where you can start anew, a place where dreams come true, and a place where anyone from any background can get a fair go and succeed.
“We also have the longest running continuous culture in the world, which is something we should be proud of, and something we should celebrate.
“Whether you were born here or have made Australia your home, Australia Day is a day where we come together, reflect on our history and recognise the contributions of inspiring Queenslanders.”
