Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Showing posts with label celebrate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrate. Show all posts

Monday, 29 January 2024

Australia Day - I am, You Are, We Are Australian


Friday 26 January was Australia Day -
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet and the raising of the Union Flag of Great Britain by Captain Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove, a small bay on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour.

In present-day Australia, the government Australia Day Council organises events that seeks to recognise the contributions of Australians to the nation, while also encouraging reflection on past wrongs including towards Indigenous Australians and also giving respect and celebrating the diversity and achievements of Australian society past and present                 wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Day

There has been a great deal of controvosy, discussions and protests over the last few years about whether we should be celebrating on 26 January - the indiginous people of Australia claiming it to be "Ïnvasion Day" and wanting to change the date.

I won't buy into this debate here. I am proudly fourth generation Australian on both sides of my family - both early free settlers and convicts, those who fought and died for their country, battled the Depression, cleared and farmed the land, worked hard for what we have. No matter what colour, religion, or nationality we are, we are all an important part of what makes this country a wonderful place to live. We should celebrate this.


Instead I will share of song with you, which I think says it all.

Aunt Stella Floyed, possibly at the time of Federation

I am, you are, we are all Australian.
I AM AUSTRALIAN.
(1987 - by Bruce Woodley, The Seekers and Dobe Newton, The Bushwackers)
I came from the dreamtime from the dusty red soil plains I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame I stood upon the rocky shore I watched the tall ships come For forty thousand years I'd been the first Australian.
I came upon the prison ship bowed down by iron chains.
.I cleared the land, endured the lash
and waited for the rains.
Great Great Grandfather James Fairhead
arrived Australia 1853
I'm a settler. I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run,
A convict then a free man
I became Australian.

I'm the daughter of a digger
who sought the mother lode, The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road

I'm a child of the depression
I saw the good times come I'm a bushy, I'm a battler I am Australian

Great Grandmother & Grandfather Floyed 1887
Great Grandfather born in Australia 1858 






[chorus] We are one, but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice: I am, you are, we are Australian I am, you are, we are Australian.

I'm a teller of the stories
I'm a singer of the songs
I am Albert Namatjira I paint the ghostly gums


Great Uncle Norman Clayden, died Gallipoli, WW1
I am Clancy on his horse I'm Ned Kelly on the run I'm the one who waltzed Matilda I am Australian.

I'm the hot wind from the desert I'm the black soil of the plains I'm the mountains and the valleys I'm the drought and flooding rains.
I am the rock, I am the sky The rivers when they run The spirit of this great land I am Australian
[chorus] We are one, but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come We share a dream and sing with one voice: I am, you are, we are Australian I am, you are, we are Australian.

And below from You Tube an inspiring rendition of this song.


You might also like -
Celebrating Australia Day & Waltzing Matilda - 2014
Australia Day on the Beach - 2015
Australia Day - How Australian Are You? - 2017
How to speak like an Australian on Australia Day - 2020


Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Australia Day Fireworks

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Monday, 25 January 2021

Australia Day - 26 January



26 January is Australia - the day that we celebrate everything that makes Australia such a great country to live in - it's for all of us - our diverse country, our amazing landscapes, our unique wildlife, our multicultural society, and acknowledge the indigenous people who populated Australia before white man arrived. 

I just found this map of indigenous Australia - as you can see there were many many groups. Australia's First Peoples have been living on the Australian continent for millennia and are the world's oldest surviving culture. AISTSIS - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia


There is always much discussion and conflicting opinion about whether we should celebrate Australia Day on 26 January - the day in 1788 that the Union Jack was first raised on Australian soil to establish the colony of New South Wales. Some indigenous people call it "invasion day" and in some ways it was. 

I know that many wrongs and atrocities were committed in the past, and some say wrongs are still being committed today. 

But as a proud white citizen of Australia whose family dates back to early settlement, I do not think changing the date we celebrate Australia day will make any difference. We can learn from the past but we cannot change the past. What has been done has been done. 

Instead I think we should all, indigenous people, whites and multicultural people who have made Australia their home, celebrate the Australia we have today and all the unique parts that make up Australia. We have all done our part to make Australia what it is today. We are all part of the story. 


I do not usually make political comments on my page, so I leave you with some links back to some of my past Australia Day posts - I think you will find some unique Aussie humour in there. 


I can walk on your country, I can listen and hear your stories, I can learn about plants and see the trees, birds, flowers, animals, I can study your ancient rock art, I can walk along your paths, I can sit under a tree and be still and feel the breeze on me, but I cannot really know your deep connection to your country, your cultural heritage, and what it means to you. But I, as a non-aboriginal "Balanda" can try.   Walking on Country - Kakadu - 2019


There won't be any Australia Day fireworks in our city this year due to Covid concerns, but there will be other events happening. Australia Day BBQ breakfasts are very popular. 


I think we might be going out in our boat in the morning, and then lazing around in the afternoon watching a typical Aussie movie - like The Man from Snowy River or watching the cricket, before enjoying an Australia Day BBQ. 


Whatever you are doing, stay safe, and happy Australia Day! It's for all of us! 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you and yours are safe and well. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.  


I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!


Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you
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Monday, 28 December 2020

The Christmas in Australia edition


A few years ago a visitor to my blog commented:

"The opposite seasons in Australia always blows my mind. Here, we are just gearing up for winter.
So why don't I ever hear about hot temperatures in Christmas songs? Do Australians not sing? Or maybe the US is just too far away to hear Australian artists?" 

So I thought I would show you some of our Aussie Christmas.

Yes it is usually hot here in Australia on Christmas Day. Where I live in the south west of Western Australia it was 38 Celsius on Christmas Day and it didn't cool down till very late in the day, and in our capital city Perth it was 40!
But many of us still eat a traditional roast Christmas dinner and pudding. Crazy hey? It is a tradition that our ancestors brought from the UK. 

But others love their seafood, cold ham, salads and pavlova. And of course there has to be something cold to drink. No egg nog or mulled wine or hot chocolate for us! 

I also make little puddings - so simple, and the apricots in our back yard are starting to ripen. I love this time of year with the stone fruit so plentiful. 


After Christmas lunch we usually flop on the lounge in the air-conditioning and watch a movie or play a board game. For many back-yard cricket seems to be the thing to do. 


Many people head to the beach, if not on Christmas Day, then they go on Boxing Day. If we go out in the boat we might be lucky enough to have a dolphin swim up to our boat. You can do a dolphin tour at The Dolphin Discovery Centre in Koombana Bay. Lucky for us there are plenty of opportunites to 4WD along the beach to get away from the crowds. 

As well as a wreath on the front door, and a Christmas tree in their house, many people put up lights outside their house too. We enjoy going around before Christmas to see them. Also in Australia we have Christmas Carols by Candlelight events. Though sadly this year they have been limited or gone on-line due to the pandemic. I didn't know that Carols by Candlelight is an Australian event started 83 years ago! 

This year I made Christmas cards and some baubles filled with dried wildflowers 


And of course after all that eating we need to go for a walk The Leschenault Estuary is not far away and we see some stunning sunsets. 

And yes there are Australian Christmas songs: I must admit many of our Christmas carols and songs come from colder climates with snow. But we do have our own too. Have you ever heard of "Six White Boomers" and we have an Aussie 12 Days of Christmas. I've just found this link - 

But for an authentic look at an Aussie Christmas, I do like Ronan Keating's version of '"Summer Wonderland" - although the countdown at the beginning is from New Zealand. You can hear it here - 


So there you have it - a little look at an Aussie Christmas. Thanks to Mandy and Justin from With Love travel blog - http://blog.youreverydaytraveler.com/

Wherever you live and whether or not you celebrate Christmas, the thought of hope for the future from Jesh from All Seasons blog puts it perfectly -
"Christmas is for me all about light in darkness. Light always conquers."

I think that is very relevant for us all over the world today. 



Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you and yours are safe and well and have been able to spend time with your loved ones this Christmas. 

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.  

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
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