Awarding the Australian of the Year medal to Adam goodes is a brazen but desperate attempt by the Australia Day Council to fend off growing calls for a change of date for national celebrations, Michael Mansell said today.
Mr Mansell said, “Adam Goodes’ stand out qualities are that he is a good footballer and was abused by a 13 year old girl at a football match. In themselves, these attributes hardly warrant a ‘best-of-the-best’ award. The Australia Day Council are desperately looking for an ambassador to hold the line in promoting the divisive date of January 26th as somehow inclusive. These awards are inextricably tied to the celebration of Australia Day of 26th January, a date whose only significance is to mark the coming to Australia of the white people in 1788. That makes the celebration a race-based day. As the national awards website states: ‘Awards are an integral part of Australia Day’.
Giving the award to a high profile Aboriginal is seen as a best hope by the Australia Day Council to offset increasing questioning of the appropriateness of January 26th as the date for Australia’s national day.
While Fred Chaney has greater credentials for the Senior Australian award, the ADC is continuing its propoganda theme that January 26th, and all it represents, is inclusive of Aborigines.
The date of January 26th is a left-over of a bygone people in the distant past, yet the Australia Day Council clings to the date by its finger nails. January 26 was being celebrated as “First Landing Day” or “Foundation Day” with drinking and merriment in 1808. It is time for a change.
It would be far more productive and certainly more socially inclusive if the Australia Day Council promoted discussion about the appropriateness of a the current date. Ideas such as the date of the Mabo decision or a proposed signing of a treaty with Aborigines are some ideas gaining support”.
Michael Mansell, Secretary of Aboriginal Provisional Government and spokesperson Aboriginal Community Council (Tas)
