Opinion Articles

SOUL MATTERS: Sufficient to Australia Day is the BBQ thereof
By The Very Reverend Dr James Rigney

In theory Australia Day is an opportunity for Australians to come together to celebrate their country and culture. It’s a time for reflections on the achievements of the nation and explorations of ways to make the country even better in the future.

But unlike ANZAC Day or even Melbourne Cup Day Australia Day has never really established itself as a day that’s about helping us define and celebrate Australianness. Perhaps this is no bad thing. Anyway the height of the Australian summer is probably not the best time to expect that level of intellectual analysis and communal philosophizing.

What we do with our public holidays is probably a good indication of what we think those holidays are about. A recent survey indicated that 81% of Swedes celebrate their national day by doing absolutely nothing. In Australia people tend to go for a picnic to the beach or to a park, go shopping or play or watch sporting events.

In some towns and cities – and Newcastle is one of them - citizenship ceremonies are held on Australia Day. These are ceremonies to welcome to the country those who have been granted Australian citizenship. Although they are official occasions, these ceremonies often have a festive atmosphere.

This year’s Newcastle ceremonies take place against the background of confirmed reports of community hostility and resentment towards international students in the city.

In a study specially commissioned by the University of Newcastle into the impact of overseas students on the community, staff said they believed students may not be welcome in surrounding suburbs. The report made 18 recommendations to address this problem covering housing programs, community engagement and safety measures, especially on transport.

At the moment many probably feel troubled by the state of our society, and find themselves wondering how we can imagine ourselves as a nation or hold together as a nation. The immediate risk is that we think that the way to hold ourselves together is to be even more suspicious of strangers or people who are in any way different.

Instead what is called for is an enjoyment of the community. Such an attitude of enjoyment makes it possible to share the burdens of others and welcome the presence of the stranger.

Shared sociability is the key idea here; everything, in other words that’s epitomised by going for a picnic to the beach or to a park, or playing or watching sporting events: doing the things people do on Australia Day.

There’s a risk if we become dissatisfied with Australia Day on the grounds that it lacks analysis and debate. The risk is that we find ourselves seeking a fake and inauthentic meaning for the day. In fact the meaning of Australia Day could lie in the things that we naturally do as social beings.

The prophet Isaiah warned the people of Israel against a way of life driven by anxiety and competition. His answer for them was simple: ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved’. (Isaiah 30.15) This Australia Day that advice still has force for us.

The Very Reverend Dr James Rigney is the Dean of the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle. This article is submitted by the Churches Media Association www.cmahunter.com.au.


*This article was published in The Herald, 25th January 2010