MELBOURNE, 26 January, 2025: An invite to attend the ‘Australia Day’ program at the Government House, could not be missed. It was so near from the Indian Consulate, where after attending the early morning Republic Day flag-hoisting event, a friend took me in his car and with a bit of walk reached the 11 hectares Government House along the Yarra River. It “is of historical significance for its role up to the first half of the 19th century as an important meeting place and camping ground for local Aboriginal people, ” says the Government House website.
Much more happened happened since then and the place is now the residence and office of the Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC. So, I was there for the 2025 Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony at Government House Victoria on Sunday 26 January 2025. The event was held outdoors in the garden of Government House and Sun protection recommended. Every invite allowed two guests also.
The massive garden (Western Lawn) with chairs and a big stage in front saw speeches by the Governor and the Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Other dignitaries and Victorians who work with children were invited to the ceremony and the important work they lead to shape the lives of children in Victoria acknowledged.
The annual event ceremony featured an inspection of the Australian Defence Force Tri-Service Royal Guard of Honour, the Australia Day Affirmation, and the singing of the Australian National Anthem. The Australian flag and the Aboriginal flag (there were four flags) went up amid the ceremonial ambience.
A few kilometers away an estimated 25,000 gathered later to mark ‘Occupation Day’ or ‘ ‘Survival Day’, many Indigenous communities and their supporters consider this day to be the beginning of the dispossession of their lands or what is Australia now. Such rallies took place across most Australian cities and other places, the media reported.
The controversy over whether ‘Australia Day’ should be held on some other day has been raging for a long time. It is officially celebrated on January 26 to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788. It became a national public holiday in 1994.
It was also an open day at the Government House today. Around the gardens, visitors were able to enjoy live performances, free activities, and roving entertainment throughout the day. This year many of the guests were from multicultural communities and were acknowledged. There was a lot of networking after the official event, and Victoria’s Premier mixed around with guests and posed for photographs.
