Well its wonderful to be here in Gunning/Goulburn on one of my favourite days of the year

[Acknowledgements]

For so many Australians, this day – the 26^th of January – is so very special

Australia Day is distinctly different from our more solemn celebrations, like Anzac day

It comes at the end of those easier weeks of Christmas and New Year, watching the cricket and the tennis, eating too much and enjoying the company of family and close friends

It’s our final break before the kids go back to school when we all buckle down for the rest of the year

There is a relaxed and easy going approach to this celebration of our wonderful nation

And celebrate we should, because every Australian has won the lottery of life.

Whether we look across human history, or across today’s world, it is impossible to find a country more blessed than ours.

A country that hasn’t just been lucky, but has made its own luck, through hard work, honesty and decency.

The sort of decency I saw yesterday from Damian White – taking hay from Gunning up to drought stricken farmers at Cunnamulla

A country that holds true to values and institutions that have stood the test of time

A country that can respect its history and traditions, whilst being able to adapt to a changing world

So Australia Day is genuinely a day of pride and celebration as the new year get going in earnest

The idea that we change the dates of our great day, that we should airbrush our history, that we should deface statues of great people like James Cook……

These are ideas I would never stand for.

We can be immensely proud of most of our history.

But I acknowledge that  there are parts that are less than perfect.

Of course we should have honest and open discussions about those events.

But none of this means that we should hang our heads in shame about this wonderful nation, or try to change our history

Congratulations to Upper Lachlan Shire/ Goulburn Mulwaree Council for standing firm on the date of Australia Day

I’m proud to be Aussie – and it’s fantastic to be here, to share my love for my country, on this day, January 26.