Celebrating Our Country Australia

by Miss Jessica

26th of January: otherwise known as Australia Day. When did this public holiday come to existence, and why do 7.5 million Australians celebrate it every year? To tell the story how this holiday came to be, we have to go back 280 years, when Sir Arthur Phillip, Captain of the First Fleet and first Governor of ‘New Holland’ landed at Botany Bay.

Captain James Cook had explored ‘New Holland’ twelve years earlier in 1788. In England, Captain Phillip had been carefully chosen to take 1373 men, women and children to New South Wales to start a new colony. After eight months of gruesome traveling, the eleven ships arrived at Botany Bay – a sandy beach which later proved to be awful farming ground. On Saturday, January 26, Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack to symbolize the start of a new British colony. This is the beginnings of Australia Day.

Since that date, January the 26th has been referred to as ‘Foundation Day’, ‘First Landing Day’ and ‘Anniversary Day’. Regardless of its title, it wasn’t till Australia reached her 30th birthday did it become a public holiday for New South Wales. By 1946, 156 years after the arrival of the First Fleet, every State and Territory chose to celebrate the year Australia came into existence.

Now days, Australia Day is celebrated by millions of people all over the continent. On this holiday, you will find many people gathered at the pool, around a barbecue, or playing a good game of backyard cricket on a hot day. Fun has become the focus of Australia Day, but that’s not all it is. For on Saturday, 26th of January, 1788, eleven ships pulled into harbour and the Union Jack planted at Botany Bay, and a new country was born.

Miss Jessica is a 14year old homeschool girl who lives in Australia. She loves the Lord and enjoys music, reading, history, computers and sewing. Jessica has a warped sense of humour and is always ready for a giggle. She helps her mum around the home and participates in the local church music team. You can find out more about Jess at her blog Little Miss Giggle.