Why we leave Australia Day off our Calendars & Planners

Over the past 3 years Earth Greetings have taken initiative on an issue very close to our hearts and values. We have been leaving out Australia Day from our planners and calendars, and instead, acknowledging 26th January as Survival Day, and here's why.

 

Our products should reflect our mission.

Earth Greetings was founded on a vision for a brighter future for people, animals and planet, and we feel that it's vital that our products reflect our values, purpose and mission.

We honour the traditional owners of the land on which we live and work, the Kaurna people, and pay our respects to the Elders past and present. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this land and commit to building a brighter future together.

But without following through on this acknowledgement with meaningful actions, these are just empty words.

 

It's not a date to celebrate.

It wasn’t until 1994 that the whole country began to celebrate Australia Day on January 26 with a national public holiday.  But for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, January 26 is not a day of celebration, but is seen as a day which commemorates the invasion by British settlers of lands already owned.

"For many Australians, Jan 26 is celebrated as "Australia Day," marking the 1788 landing of the First Fleet. However, for First Nations people, the day is one of mourning, survival, and remembrance. It represents the invasion of Aboriginal lands, the disruption of cultures, the loss of lives, and an enduring legacy of trauma passed down through generations. 

Although Australia often prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive nation, continuing to celebrate on January 26 disregards the voices and lived experiences of First Nations people. This celebration, which only became an official public holiday in 1994, fails to embody the values of unity, respect, and reconciliation." Source: Clothing The Gaps

 

We want a more harmonious future.

January 26 is Invasion Day, and a day of mourning for Aboriginal people. Acknowledging Survival Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the survival of Aboriginal people and culture, despite colonisation and comprehensive inequalities.

The 1988 Bicentenary of Australia saw a large protest in Sydney in which Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians marched together. Gumbaynggirr man and activist Uncle Gary Foley said:

"It's so magnificent to see black and white Australians together in harmony. This is what Australia could and should be like."

We share this harmonious vision, and want to see a brighter future where all Australians can come together on another date to celebrate our rich cultural diversity. But we can't do this without meaningful action which engages in thoughtful dialogue with all Australians around the meaning of January 26, which recognnises the pain of this date felt by First Nations people.

"This is an opportunity for our government to demonstrate true commitment to the values of inclusion and respect. Acknowledging the pain associated with January 26 is not about division—it’s about healing." Source: Clothing The Gaps.

Earth Greetings proudly support Clothing The Gaps Not A Date To Celebrate campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to put pressure on the Prime Minister of Australia to reconsider and recognise the profound significance of this date, and to acknowledge the harm that celebrating “Australia Day” on January 26 continues to cause Indigenous Communities. Head to Clothing The Gaps to learn more about the history of January 26 and sign the petition.

We'll be donating 10% of sales on January 26 to Seedmob, a strong and powerful network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people who are connected, empowered to protect country and leading the fight for climate justice.

 

Learn More about our Planners here.