Thirty years ago the 26 January became a public holiday
In recent years the celebration of Australia Day has been met with increasing recognition that the continent had owners prior to becoming a British colony.
Today I'm pondering if Australia Day would be called Invasion Day regardless of the date because the question of sovereignty remains unanswered.
I believe it's this question that was not satisfactorily addressed in the referendum last year, as many First Nations weren't assured that legal recognition in the Australian Constitution was tantamount to accepting the legitimacy of the document and undermining the need for treaties.
My recollection is the increased funding for Australia Day events saw a rise in patriotism.
Over the years the Big Day Out began to be characterised by people wearing the Australian flag like a cape, for example.
I seem to remember that was one reason given by the concert organisers to hold the event on a different day, but it had also grown to be two concerts in Sydney.
As the population of Australia increasingly recognises a First Nations identity, I expect the question of sovereignty will become louder.
There is a need for our country to reconcile the national narrative, but it will always mean different things to different people.
For me it always was and always will be...
