Bands, marches and traditional ceremonies all part of First Nations’ Far North Survival Day 2023
Far North communities have welcomed Australia Day with different levels of warmth, celebration and commemoration.
Cairns
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Far North communities have welcomed Australia Day with different levels of warmth, celebration and commemoration.
From solemn marches and smoking ceremonies to face painting and free barbecues, the date Captain Arthur Phillip landed in Sydney Cove to found a penal settlement is imprinted on Australians.
At the Tobruk Memorial Pool it was a family fun day with barbecues, a free DJ, underwater hockey, facepainting and all hands on deck.
Centre manager Jarrod Harby said they had six lifeguards on duty to make sure people stayed safe on Australia Day.
“We’re making sure everyone’s safe and the kids have some fun,” he said.
Sonya Barber said the day was “just happiness”, and it was about promoting kids and health and being active.
“Today is about reflection and respect, but it’s still a celebration,” she said.
Down at Fogarty Park to chants of “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land”, more than 100 people marched from the park along the Esplanade in support of Survival Day, and numbers grew as the march progressed.
One of the organisers of the event in Cairns, Rachel, who did not want her last name used, said she was happy with the numbers.
“It’s a good turn out today with more than 100 people, and that’s what we want, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people coming together,” she said.
“We have a responsibility to ensure that we’re educating people today but also for the next generation because there’s not enough information out there.
“It’s important to remember that we as First Nations don’t say on ANZAC Day ‘Get over it’, and we expect the same respect. Our ancestors were killed.”
Rachel said there were massacre sites which still weren’t spoken about.
“So we have a responsibility to get out there and educate people,” she said.
“We need to call today a day of mourning, we need to remember that colonial wars happened, and it’s important for people tocome together to talk about these things to normalise it.”
At Smithfield Marlin Coast Swimming and Fitness Centre, general manager Rachael Hughes said around 600 people came along for the free sausage sizzle, face painting, and inflatables.
“We’re loving it,” she said.
“It’s super positive, great.”
Cairns Volunteer of the Year award winner Hannah Boon said it was the first time celebrations had been held there.
“It’s perfect that the weather has turned out so well,” she said.
“We encourage everyone to volunteer at any of these events.”
Out in the Aboriginal Shire of Yarrabah, leaders said January 26 was a day to reflect upon and celebrate the resilience ofthe world’s longest surviving culture.
In Yarrabah and in many First Nations communities, January 26 is Survival Day, and Mayor Ross Edwards sees it as an opportunity to recognise the resilience and courage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Although Yarrabah was only founded 130 years ago, our people have survived for tens of thousands of years,” he said.
“In recent times we have lived though tragedies like the stolen generation, stolen wages, economic and financial exploitation.
“Yet here we are today, a very proud and strong culture, standing tall on Survival Day, and celebrating as a community.”
Survival Day has been officially celebrated for almost 30 years in Yarrabah and serves as an
important community gathering, he said.
And on Thursday more than 500 members of the community joined in a range of Survival
Day activities ranging from a community fishing competition and community Unity Walk to sand castle building, coconut huskingand live entertainment including traditional dancing.
“It’s fantastic to see so many community members turning out in force to celebrate this year,” the mayor said.
“Last year due to Covid we had a very subdued celebration, but this year it’s time to celebrate, reflect and enjoy our cultureand heritage.”
He said Survival Day acknowledged the dark parts of Australia’s history with regard
to First Nations People, but it also celebrated the resilience of people and culture, and promoted reconciliation and unity.
Those sentiments were echoed by some of the people marching along the Esplanade in Cairns.
Matt O’Connor, who joined with his partner Ina Indriana and child Elfa said he was marching to “come along to appear”.
“Australia Day should be the founding day of the nation, a day that brings people together like it is in Canada,” he said.
Organisers said they weren’t expecting so many people to rock up.
“At least it’s a conversation starter. It’s growing and it’s good to see so many people in Cairns. It’s presence and power,” Rachel said.
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