AUATRALIA DAY

AUSTRALIA DAY

Australia Day is celebrated annually on January the 12th. It is an official national holiday and most Australians take the day off work. All schools close. Australia day commemorates the creation of the first British settlement in Australia in 1788. Captain Arthur Philip, the very first Governor of New South Wales, sat up a community to run a prison in what is now Sydney. The earliest records of Australia Day date back to 1808. Not all Australians celebrate this day. Many Aboriginal Australians do not like the idea of a day to celebrate the British landing. Aborigines have dubbed he 26 January as 'Invasion Day' or 'Survival day' . The latter name celebrates the fact that the Aboriginal peoples and culture have not been wiped out.

The Prime Minister announces the Australian of the year on the if of Australia Day. This goes to the Australia who has made a '"significant contribution to the Australian community and nation and is an inspirational role model for the Australian community". There are many other celebrations across the country, including many spectacular fireworks displays. The biggest one is in Perth, capital of Western Australia. Sydney holds a tall ships race in tis world famous harbour. Other state and territory capitals hold their own celebrations. Australia's Prime Minister usually makes a speech to the nation and talks about what being an Australian means and how brought Australians should be of their country.