Australia Day 2021

Today has been Australia Day. Normally we would head to the Carlton's place to have a bbq and catch up with them and other friends from church, but you know... Covid... so instead we were home for the day. James and I wanted to spend some time with the kids talking about our Indigenous neighbours and the injustices they have experienced in the past but continue to experience today. Last night we watched Common Grace's #ChangeTheHeart prayer service. It was a good time to pause, to hear from some Christian Indigenous leaders and to hear about their perspective of Australia Day. It is a day of hurt, a day of pain and a day that they don't want to celebrate. What stood out to me is the way they kept saying 'the land we now call Australia'. It reminded me that this is not our land. They have accepted that some things are just the way it is, like this name, but they are hurting and in pain. We were called to be awake, to make a change. To make a stand for our indigenous neighbours. I was amazed at the amount of injustices that still exist for them. Just crazy. We have days like Sorry Day, Reconciliation week, but then the issues still remain. I find Australia Day tricky. I am proud and so grateful to live in this country. I am so glad that we have a good health care system (especially during Covid), good education, houses, food, clean water etc. We have so much here! Yet, our indigenous friends who have lived here longer than ourselves don't have access to all these things. I find it hard to know what to say. I want to speak kindly, lovingly, honestly. I want to show respect to the elders past, present and those to come. But I also get nervous that I will say the wrong thing. I don't want to offend. I want to be educated more but a lot of it goes over my head and stumps me. I struggle with knowing how to teach this nation's history to the kids. It's tricky to do. As James said, we want to tell the kids the reality of what happened and what this day means to the indigenous people, but they are also kids and should be able to enjoy today too.

Anyway, we did our best to find a balance between celebrating and being proud of this country we live in, but also acknowledging our indigenous friends. We started the morning out on the front lawn where Alexander led us in his preschool Acknowledgement of Country. 

'Here is the Land and here is the sky

Here are my friends and here am I.

We stand on Darug Country today, 

The land on which we learn and play,

Together we all will care

For Darug country we all share.'

We then sat down and read Eliza's book, Welcome to Country'. It is such a lovely book. It created conversations with the kids. They asked questions like 'Is that true?' 'We don't believe that.' 'It's just pretend'. We discussed that we still respect other people's beliefs. We discussed that they welcome us to their country and we should respect them and respect and look after the land like the do. We can learn from them. After the garbage truck drove past (a distraction too exciting for the kids) we then prayed for our Indigenous brothers and sisters. Alexander and I prayed which was lovely to do.

We then headed inside and read Possum Magic, by Mem Fox. A wonderful Australian author and a great Australian book. We then spent the day exploring the book a bit more. We enjoyed some of the snacks that Hush tried to become visible again. For morning tea we had Anzac biscuits with Milo. It didn't help Hush appear.

The kids then cut out their Hush pieces. I was very impressed with Alexander's scissors skills.

The kids did some writing about an animal that had magical powers, like Grandma Poss. Daniel chose a penguin who could change water to solid ice. Eliza chose a kangaroo who could have ink come out of its pouch. Alexander chose a kangaroo who could make things slippery and go invisible. They were cute stories to read.

Then we had lunch - Vegemite sandwiches... Well, Daniel had grilled Vegemite and cheese, Eliza had Vegemite and peanut butter and Alexander had toasted Vegemite and peanut butter. Close enough :-) This meal helped Hush's tail appear.

Looking for the tail

Found it!

Dessert was pavlova where the kids got to make their own. I do love a pavlova and the kids loved them too.

Alexander's pavlova looked like a chicken!

This treat made Hush's body and legs appear.

Alexander and Eliza had fun colouring in Hush's body

Afternoon tea was lamingtons. This helped us find Hush's face.

I then hid Hush the soft toy and the kids went on a hunt to find her. The boys ran straight past but Eliza paused and looked in the cardboard boxes and found her! This then led to the boys in tears because they didn't get to find her. Was a bit of a dampener to a fun afternoon.

We then headed down to Judy's pool to enjoy a swim. The water felt amazing. So nice a warm. We had a great time swimming, doing classic catches, diving, playing. A lovely way to finish off the day.

The kids were right into the water

Classic Catches (it was way too hot for cricket)

Daddy throwing

Even Alexander wanted to have a go. I was very impressed!

I have been amazed at Alexander's confidence this week. He is loving swimming and trying to use straight arms. He doesn't have to have you near him in the pool. What a change!

We finished off the day with a BBQ outside. It was hot but it was nice and the kids were excited. They do enjoy eating outside.

So a lovely Australia Day with my gorgeous family.