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BTN: What's Australia Day all about?

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People in parade hold sign that reads "Australia Day Parade 2006"
BTN: What's Australia Day all about?

SUBJECTS:  History

YEARS:  3–4, 5–6


Do you know why we have a public holiday on 26 January — Australia Day?

In this clip from Behind the News, investigate different perspectives on this national holiday and find out how people commemorate it.


Things to think about

  1. 1.What do you do on Australia Day? Is it a special day for you? As you watch this clip, see if you can identify the different attitudes and feelings people have towards this national holiday.
  2. 2.What notable event occurred on 26 January, 1788? According to the Australia Day Council, what do we celebrate on Australia Day? List all of the events shown in the clip that occur on Australia Day?
  3. 3.What is the name of the clan of Aboriginal people who live around Sydney Harbour? Why is Australia Day a time of 'sadness and protest' for many Indigenous people? According to Reconciliation Australia, what opportunity does Australia Day provide?
  4. 4.The clip identifies some Australians of the Year. Who is the Australian of the Year now? What accomplishments is she or he noted for? Who is the Young Australian of the Year?


Date of broadcast: 5 Dec 2006


Copyright

Metadata © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia Ltd 2012 (except where otherwise indicated). Digital content © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). Video © Australian Broadcasting Corporation (except where otherwise indicated). All images copyright their respective owners. Text © Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Education Services Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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