Our local West Weekend magazine (Jan 19-20,2103) interviewed some prominent West Australians for Australia Day on Saturday. (Interviews by Amanda Keenan & Pip Christmass)

So I was inspired to interview myself for the blog to celebrate Australia Day and what it means to be Australian.

I am linking up with Amanda from Cooker and Looker Blog for her Australia Day Special Linkup.

Interview

What does being Australian mean to you? It means living in the lucky country. Living in a beautiful city, having freedom, being able to provide opportunities to my family, especially my children.

The best characteristics of Aussies are? We are hardworking, like to have fun, willing to have a go, generous with our time to help others

The worst characteristics of Aussies are? As I have travelled quite a bit, I have got the occasional remark that we can be racist and  we drink too much. Or we are behind in some trends seen first in other parts of the world.

Are most Australians racists? No, not on the whole but I do think we have a long way to build a bridge between white Australia and the Aborigines. I have come across individuals who do like to express the occasional rant on an ethnic or race issue. I come from a small country town that has many Aboriginal people living in it and there are still race issues going on to this day, which no one is yet to fix.

Should we celebrate Australia day or Invasion Day? I believe we should celebrate Australia Day but I realise that for the Aboriginal people that this is seen as an invasion of their original country. Maybe we should incorporate some sort of ode to the Aboriginal people (which I think many Australia day ceremonies do include). Kevin Rudd (the then Prime Minister) said “Sorry” a few moons ago but how much of an impact did that make in the long run? I believe there should be more emphasise on joining our multi-cultural society together on the day rather than just picnics, beer and pavlova.

How do you celebrate Australia Day? We are usually by the river with a picnic with friends watching the fireworks go off in the sky

Your favourite Australian Food? Prawns and Pavlova (not at the same time)

Your hopes for Australia in the future? I hope that one day I can walk down the street and everyone is seen or judged on their personality, their attitude to life, their work ethic, their life experiences. Not on their race, sexual preference’s, their religious beliefs. (Very idealistic & Martin Luther King of me, I know)

 

I hope to you all have a wonderful Australia Day and visit all the blogs who have linked up to Amanda’s Cooker and a Looker blog.