The ACT will have a new public holiday in 2018 for Reconciliation Day. Greens member of the Legislative Assembly, Caroline Le Couteur, welcomed the new day-off but also called on the Assembly to change the date of Australia Day as it marked a day of colonisation and detriment to our First Peoples. The responsible Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith, had told the Assembly in February “How about we pick a date that suits us all for a national celebration, move Australia Day to that date and then make sure we become a republic on that date?”. WfaAR couldn’t agree more and nominates 1 September, National Wattle Day for our republic holiday and new national day. [“This year will be the last Family and Community Public Holiday” by Katie Burgess, The Canberra Times online, 17 August 2017]
Woman for an Australian Republic, Adelaide Ironside, republican poet and artist 1831-1867
Self portrait 1855, Newcastle Art Gallery NSW
