Geraldton street poll on changing the date debate finds majority believe Australia Day should remain on Jan 26

It’s the debate that won’t go away.

Every year, in the lead-up to Australia Day, the issue of changing the date rears up, with First Nations people describing January 26 — the day in 1788 when the First Fleet sailed into Sydney Cove — as “Invasion Day” or a “day of mourning”.

The Geraldton Guardian took to the streets this week to pose the questions to residents: do they celebrate Australia Day, and do they think the date should be changed?

Two dozen people were surveyed along Marine Terrace and almost 55 per cent believed the status quo should remain, while 25 per cent supported a change.

YES, CHANGE THE DATE

“I hate the concept, it should be abolished,” said Deborah Green, 46, from Rangeway.

“The Aboriginal community see it as a Sorry Day when white men took over the place,” Arnold Dann said.

“It’s against my principles of what I stand for, I cannot support genocide. I’m a migrant, my parents migrated to Australia in the 80s,” Kavoa Dakunimata from Fiji said.

“I think changing it is the most culturally appropriate thing to do, I think it’s time to shift it up,” Mark Ireland from WA’s South West coast said.

“I think it’s very insensitive as the day has a different meaning to Indigenous Australians as it’s attached to great sadness and loss,” said Rosie Perham, 16, from Wandina. “It’s not inclusive to all Australians and that’s what Australia Day should be about.”

“There’s too much controversy around the date, there’s too much sorrow,” said part-Aboriginal woman Alison Cox. “We’re trying to build a better future, how can we when we can’t move on from a day that has caused so much trauma and grief?”

NO, DON’T CHANGE THE DATE

“A lot of people could make a case to change it, but a lot can make a case to keep it the way it is,” Greg French said.

“We’re immigrants but we have citizenship in Australia and we celebrate Australia as our new country,” an anonymous woman said.

“Keep it the way it is. People want a public holiday, let them have a public holiday and enjoy themselves,” John Cowley said, as his friend Peter Nicholakis agreed.

“Australia Day is about citizenship from the British. Everybody should celebrate Australia as Australia regardless of their culture,” a woman in her mid-30s said.

“We’ll celebrate Australia Day at home, the kids will come over for a swim and we’ll have a barbecue,” a woman said.

“It should be celebrated the same day it’s always happened on,” an elderly woman said.

“An Indigenous elder in Northern Queensland wrote a poem that sums up it didn’t matter if you’re white or black, Australia Day should be something we treasure as a nation,” Brett, in his late 40s, said.

“It’s always been the way, I don’t think it should change,” the Ryan family said.

“That’s how it is, all these do-gooders want to change it to their own individual separate days. I don’t think it should change,” Trevor Ashby said.

“My son was born on that day, I reckon it should stay,” an Indigenous woman said.

“I’m part-Indigenous myself, I’ve got no issues with Australia Day. I don’t think it separates people and we all come together so I’ve got no issues with it,” a government employee said.

“I’m happy with where it is,” one person said. “I do normally celebrate but I’ll be working this week.”

“I don’t have a problem with it, I’m happy with is as it is,” another said.

I DON’T HAVE AN OPINION

“I’ll celebrate with everyone else, because we’re all having fun,” Patrick Dongara, 62, from Drummonds Cove said.

“I’m not into politics at the end of the day, just make it a three-day weekend,” tradesman Daniel Oswald said.

“I don’t want to say either way, I don’t want to upset anyone by saying yes or no to that,” a local business owner said.

“I think that Australia’s native people should have the strongest voice as to when and what should be celebrated,” one person said.

“I can see both sides of the situation, so I think it should be up to the individual to decide if they celebrate,” another said.