Australians celebrate their national day.
Aussies all over the world are today celebrating Australia Day in style! So to celebrate this annual festival let’s have a look at its beginnings and the more unusual ways it’s remembered across Australia.
Australia Day is commemorated on the 26th of January to mark the first fleet’s arrival at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation of British sovereignty.
However the celebrations of Australia Day have also been marked with controversy, with protests being held from and on behalf of the Indigenous Australian people who see Australia Day as ‘Invasion Day’.
Yet to many Australians the date marks the opportunity to have a day off work and celebrate with friends and family. And some of those commemorations take some bizarre turns as we’ll now see.
In Brisbane the day is marked with cockroach racing. Yes you heard me right, cockroach racing. It all began one balmy summers day when two patrons of the Story Bridge Hotel in Brisbane began arguing that the ‘roaches from their part of town were faster than the others. They challenged each others ‘roaches to a race, to the delight of the rest of the town and thus these rather bizarre celebrations were born.
Twenty-eight years later the tradition is still going strong with added extras such as live bands and street parties. You can bet on one of the suitably named ‘roaches such as ‘Priscilla Queen of the Drains’ and ‘Guns N Roaches’ on the day. Visit the World Championship Cockroach Races website for more details.
Darwin also particpates in the races, but in a more civilised fashion. The annual Australia Day Ute Run is held at the Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex where pickup trucks race through the city for the coveted title. The race ends at the Winnellie Park Greyhound Club where you can participate in other sports such as ‘muffler throwing’ and push the ute competition. A barbecue provides refreshments whilst a live band adds to the atmosphere.
Back to the bizarre now and head over to Port Lincoln for a spot of tuna tossing. Well why not? The event attracts people worldwide to see how far they can toss an 8-10 kilogram tuna fish. The record was set in 1998 by an ex Olympic Hammer Thrower who managed to toss his tuna an impressive 37.23 metres! Visit the Tuna Toss Competition website.
Sydney, the great capital of Australia indulges in a spot of traditional Australian cuisine. The Great Aussie BBQ is held in Hyde Park and promises to be the biggest barbeque in Australia. Join the throng of thousands of Aussies to ‘throw another shrimp on the barbie’. The Great Aussie BBQ also forms part of the Sydney Festival which runs from 9-30 January.
So no matter what you’re into, Australia’s cities will have something to offer you this Australia Day. Happy partying everyone!
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