Jabiru celebrates - but is 26 January an inclusive date for all?

Sampson Henry and Judy Djandjomerr enjoying the Australia Day family fun day at the Jabiru Pool.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2015 ADDRESS

By ANDY RALPH

What does Australia Day mean to me?

Firstly and most important, I wish to acknowledge the Aboriginal traditional owners of Jabiru, the Mirarr Gundjeihmi, and other Bininj, traditional owners whose lands are included in Kakadu National Park.

Today is also the first anniversary of the passing of Balung in a terrible accident at Mudjinberri Billabong. In fact I was driving to the award ceremony at the Jabiru Golf Club when I got the call from the community to raise the alarm, and begin the search with Park Rangers. I also want to acknowledge the Cannon Hill and Madginbardi communities, we are thinking of them and the Marimowa family at this time.

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, but what does Australia Day mean to me? I thought I’d google it, and surf the net:

‘Celebrated annually on 26 January, it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip. In contemporary Australia, celebrations reflect the diverse society and landscape of the nation, and are marked by community and family events, reflections on Australian history, official community awards, and citizenship ceremonies welcoming new immigrants into the Australian community.’

Well that’s what Wikipedia reckons anyway!

With Australia day celebrated annually it’s not often ‘top of mind’; only a couple of days a year we reflect on the colonization of our country, the early history of the first white settlers and the impact on the original inhabitants, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The struggles and hardships on both sides, the growing of a nation, it's triumphs and failings, it's governance, it's fairness and injustices, war and conflict, it's inhibitions and freedoms, it's endeavours and determinations, it's character and identity, wealth and resources, our natural and cultural landscapes, our beauty… and what it means to be an Australian today, living in the best country on earth.

The significance of Australia Day has evolved over time, meaning different things to different people. For some, particularly Indigenous Australians, Australia Day has become a symbol for the adverse effects of British settlement on Australia's Indigenous people.

The celebrations in 1938 were accompanied by an Aboriginal Day of Mourning. A large gathering of Aboriginal people in Sydney in 1988 led an "Invasion Day" commemoration marking the loss of Indigenous culture. The anniversary also became known as "Survival Day".

As a ‘Balanda’ person of European descent, and married to a local indigenous woman from Madginbardi, I can appreciate several points of view.

Here in the Northern Territory Indigenous Australians have a tremendous history of embracing Australia Day. Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Aboriginal leader, and his brother the late Mr Yunupingu of Yothu Yindu, are both recipients of the Australian of the Year awards.

In fact, in 2015 Northern Territory Aboriginal people have taken out NT Australian of the Year - Rosalie Kunoth-Monks, the Senior Australian of the Year - Eddie Robertson, while Chantal Ober from Katherine took out the Young Australian of the Year!

Here in Kakadu we have a short but vibrant history of Australia Day celebrations. In the late 70’s and early 80’s the program was organised by the Jabiru Sports & Social Club, then located in the temporary township at Jabiru East, over the road from the Ranger Mine nursery.
Teams in home-made boats would race and rollick down Georgetown Billabong, so named after George Lane, the then Chairman of Peko-Wallsend, the original proponent of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers region. Located behind Ranger Mine, its part of Magela Creek and it was the water ‘playground’ of the Jabiru East residents. It’s now loaded with Crocodiles and now I wouldn’t put my big toe in there… although I do confess to swimming there over twenty years ago on a Hash House Harriers run!

Then when Jabiru was built in 1982 the Jabiru Town Development Authority ran Australia Day at the lake, often raining without fail and washing out the event. In the late 80’s and with the weather in mind Kakadu Apex, of which I was President at the time, moved the event to the Jabiru Pool… who cares if rains and you get wet! I also remember Big Bill Neidjie from Cannon Hill attending and showing off the Order of Australia medal he was awarded in 1989 for his service to conservation.

The current date of 26 January is hardly inclusive, apart from dispossession, it celebrates the foundation of the Colony of New South Wales - too bad if you barrack for Queensland in the Rugby League State of Origin.

Surely 1st January 1901, the Federation of the Australian states is more appropriate, even though the Northern Territory was still part of South Australia upon formation of the Commonwealth.

So, what does Australia Day mean to me? Too be honest I’m still working it out. In part reflecting on the past, not only from 1788 but also our rich indigenous history… everyone in Kakadu should be made aware that less than twenty kilometres north of Jabiru, just inside the Jabiluka Mineral Lease lies Australia’s oldest dated continuous occupation site.

Occupational debris, stone tools and Aboriginal artefacts recovered from Madjadbebe has been dated by the Australian National University at fifty eight thousand years – incredible!

I also look at what we’ve achieved as individuals, families, and community locally and as a nation, and contemplate the future… over a few light ales and a buffalo hamburger.

Happy days!