CHANGING the date of Australia Day would be a backwards step, according to two well-known Aboriginal leaders.
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Warrnambool’s Adeline McDonald believes Australia Day should be held on January 26 and residents should consider it a day of reflection.
“If we change the date, we won’t be acknowledging what’s happened in the past,” Ms McDonald said.
She urged all Australians to take a moment or two on Australia Day to think about the atrocities Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders were subjected to in the past.
“It’s a day of reflection and a chance to pay our respects to our ancestors,” Ms McDonald said.
Former Warrnambool man Jason Mifsud echoed Ms McDonald’s sentiments.
“I think the more mature conversation is about repurposing January 26 as opposed to changing it,” he said.
Mr Mifsud said he believed changing the date would create division, while repurposing the day to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures would unite Australians.
He also believes that greater awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures would help tackle the issue of racism.
Mr Mifsud, 44, has witnessed positive steps forward in his lifetime, but he believes Australia has a long way to go.
“Racism is a big undercurrent in the Australian community,” he said.
Mr Mifsud said he had been lucky to forge a successful career and was pleased his children had many opportunities to succeed.
“I can honestly say things are improving but that’s not necessarily a reflection of the experience of all Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders nationally,” he said.
Mr Mifsud said changing the focus of Australia Day would be a positive step, but he believes educating young people about the country’s history was more important.
He said Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders should teach students about the history of their cultures in schools.
Mr Mifsud said he believed this would lead to a “far more reconciled nation”.
Their comments come after it was revealed the Greens are planning a national campaign to change the date of Australia Day.
Federal leader RIchard Di Natale has listed the controversial push as one of his top priorities for 2018.