Sydney shrugs off Covid to celebrate Australia Day 2022

Sydneysiders have turned out in droves to celebrate the first Australia Day without Covid restrictions in two years. See the photos

Australians old and new put their pride and passion on display as they took to the great outdoors to bask in the return of Australia Day celebrations without Covid res­trictions for the first time in almost two years.

The rumble of ferries, the roar of Australian Defence Force jets and the magnificent sight of tall ships across Sydney Harbour all made a welcome comeback this year, after the pandemic saw most festivities cancelled in 2021.

The Australia Day Concert at Sydney Opera House on Wednesday evening. Picture: Julian Andrews

The Australia Day Concert at Sydney Opera House on Wednesday evening. Picture: Julian Andrews

A total of 16,000 people from more than 150 countries pledged to become Australian citizens in ceremonies across the nation, adding to “Australia’s rich tapestry”, in the words of Scott Morrison.

“You now write your own chapters in Australia’s story,” the PM told the new citizens at a ceremony in Canberra.

He called on Australians to use the day to reflect, respect and celebrate our wonderful country” which was “the most successful multicultural, multi-faith nation anywhere on Earth”.

In Sydney, the sails of the Opera House were illumin­ated with the Indigenous artwork of Pitjantjatjara artist David Miller at dawn, ahead of a full program of events kicking off in the city centre.

The Australia Day Concert at Sydney Opera House on Wednesday evening. Picture: Julian Andrews

The Australia Day Ferrython on Sydney Harbour. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dylan Robinson

The Australia Day Concert at Sydney Opera House on Wednesday evening. Picture: Julian Andrews

They ranged from an Aboriginal smoking ceremony at Barangaroo to an ear-splitting fly-past

by a Royal Australian Airforce F-35 fighter jet. Favourites including the ferrython and tall ships race made a return to the harbour after their hiatus last year.

Away from the water, Col­ombian couple Carlos Varela and Andrea Sanson, and their daughter Amilia, 4, were among 21 Parramatta residents to be granted citizenship at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. They said it was Australia’s multiculturalism and sense of freedom that attrac­ted them Down Under.

“It’s the best country, it’s amazing. It’s everything we’ve wanted,” Mr Varela said.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from, everyone here is a mix of cultures.”

Ms Sanson said she felt part of a “loving community”.

“No one is pretentious, and everyone is just having fun. There’s no judgment.”

For others, the sunshine provided the perfect encouragement to hit the beach.

Syrian family Nerses Chuljian and Nayiri Injejikian with boys Intranig and Krikor became Australian citizens on Wednesday. Picture: Toby Zerna

Ali with wife Farzana and their kids Royesh, Aleena, and Anahita became Australian citizens on Wednesday. Picture: Toby Zerna

Colombian family Carlos Varela and Andrea Sanson with their daughter Amilia became Australian citizens on Wednesday. Picture: Toby Zerna

Coogee local Jess Moyes and her children, Torah, 11 and Zoe, 10, were among those who claimed a patch of sand for a day-long coastal kickback.

“That’s how we celebrate Australia Day, coming down with our friends and pitching a tent and enjoying the sun,” she said.

Fresh from receiving an AM (Member of the Order of Australia) yesterday, pop princess Delta Goodrem hosted the Australia Day Live concert at the Opera House alongside fellow entertainer, Casey Donovan, and belted out a few tunes including Choirboys classic Run to Paradise.

Koomurri performer Les Daniels stands on the foreshore of Campbell’s Cove as Western Desert artist and elder Yadjidta David Miller’s artwork was projected onto the Sydney Opera House at dawn on Australia Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Western Desert artist and elder Yadjidta David Miller on the foreshore of Campbell Cove as his artwork is projected onto the Sydney Opera House at dawn on Australia Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

It wasn’t all barbecues and beach days, with thousands of protesters flooding the Sydney CBD for an Invasion Day rally, with Indigenous deaths in custody dominating emotive speeches.

Those who joined the march from Town Hall to Victoria Park held signs that said “Change The Date” and “Black Lives Matter” in a show of support to shift the timing of Australia Day.

State Liberal MP David ­Elliott, meanwhile, praised Castle Hill Rotary, in his electorate of Baulkham Hills, “for having the courage to host their annual Australia Day flag raising ceremony”.

It came after a political spat over flag raising on one of the Central Coast’s busiest streets, with the local business chamber claiming the council had shunned raising the Australian flag at Umina over concerns “it might offend people”.

The council hoisted the flag at their ceremonies throughout Australia Day.

THOUSANDS JOIN ‘INVASION DAY’ PROTESTS IN CBD

Thousands of people have flooded the city of Sydney for an “Invasion Day” rally, with the high rates of Indigenous deaths in custody dominating the emotive speeches.

Those who joined the march from Town Hall to Victoria Park held signs that said “Change The Date” and “Black Lives Matter” to show their support for the issues facing First Nations people.

One speaker, Clayton Simpson, lost two of his sons in custody including one who he said died in prison from “neglect” and the other who he said was shot in the chest during a police operation in November last year.

“Why did the police shoot our son in the chest to die? Families like us should not need to suffer this pain anymore,” Mr Simpson told the crowd.

He said January 26 represented “a day of survival”.

Protests in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

A silent march is being held across the city. Picture: John Grainger

Thousands have joined protests around the country. Picture: John Grainger

The crowd chanted “shame, shame” when he spoke of changing the date.

“People wake up today, have a barbecue and a beer. I wake up with tears in my eyes due to the generational trauma that our government allows,” he said.

Paul Silver, the nephew of 26-year-old Dunghutti man David Dungay Jr — who died in Long Bay Prison Hospital in 2015 — told the crowd his family were taking their case to The United Nations.

Mr Dungay died after he was dragged to another cell by prison guards while eating a biscuit, then held down and injected with a sedative.

An inquest heard Mr Dungay — who was in prison for assault, aggravated attempted sexual assault and being a party to robbery — told the officers he could not breathe 12 times before his death.

Protesters march down Elizabeth in Sydney. Picture: John Grainger

Police officers monitor the protest at Town Hall. Picture: John Grainger

He was due to be released three weeks later.

“We stand on this step still without any justice or accountability for what happened to David … his death was avoidable,” Mr Silver said.

“Our fight is going to The United Nations. Our government has the ability to hold those people responsible to account, but they don’t.”

A letter was read to the crowd from Mr Dungay’s mother Leetona, who was attending an Invasion Day protest in Canberra.

“I want justice for an Aboriginal man’s death. I want to live a life where black lives do matter,” she wrote.

There have been more than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths in custody.