Australia Day is Australia’s national holiday! Australia Day also marks, for many Australians, the last day of the Summer Holiday season and the start of the working year.

Australia Day is a day for partying and for celebration. As the name suggests, Australia Day is about our national identity. 

A Brief History & Australia Day Today

Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788 (you can read a comprehensive history of the evolution of Australia Day on the Australia Day website. You can also find on our website the story of Rev’d Richard Johnson, the First Fleet and Settlement Chaplain). Though 26 January marks this specific event, today Australia Day celebrations reflect contemporary Australia: our diverse society and landscape, our remarkable achievements and our bright future. It also is an opportunity to reflect on our nation’s history, and to consider how we can make Australia an even better place in future. At its core, Australia Day is a day driven by communities, and the celebrations held in each town, suburb or city – unified by the celebration of what’s great about Australia and being Australian – are the foundation of its ongoing success

The Australian Defence Force is an active participant in Australia Day and naturally so. The Australian Defence Force places great stress on serving the nation.

For many, being in the Australian Defence Force is a means of serving a higher ideal. In the minds of many people who join the Australian Defence Force is the idea that they are committing themselves to a cause larger than themselves, and to possible self-sacrifice in the defence of that cause. Many Australian Defence Force Christians find that they have unique opportunities for Christian service on behalf of the broader society and for the common good.

Australian Christians Share in the National Identity that Australia Day Represents.

It is true that Christians share in the national identity that Australia Day represents. We affirm the aim of  the day being for us an opportunity to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the future. That is why a number of Churches will also hold Australia Day activities – such as a BBQ and family games (Like thong throwing).

But Christians also know that ultimately our identity is in Jesus Christ. Christians know that we are citizens not only of our nation, but also and more importantly, we are citizens of heaven (See Philippians 3:20 ‘But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ’) It is because of this reason that Christians will also pray for our nation.

Some Australia Day Bible Readings and Prayers.

Here are some suggested Bible Readings for Australia Day

• Deuteronomy 8:5-14 (Do not forget God in Prosperity)
• Psalm 125  (Our security is in the Lord our God)
• Hebrews 11:8-16 (Living by Faith and looking beyond what we currently enjoy)
• Matthew 5:1-12 (The ethics of theKingdomofGod)

And here is a suggested prayer and a blessing from A Prayer Book forAustralia.

Bounteous God, We give thanks for this ancient and beautiful land,

A land of despair and hope, A land of wealth and abundant harvests,

A land of fire, drought and flood.

We pray that your Spirit may continue to move in this land and bring forgiveness, reconciliation, and an end to all injustice;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God, bless Australia

Guard our people

Guide our leaders

And give us peace;

For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. 

A Final Thought

Australia Day is about commitment to our nation and to each other. It is also the effective start of our working year. It is true that we can work for success, but Christians know that life is about relationships – with our Lord Jesus and with each other. Therefore, drawing strength from our Lord Jesus, we strive for each others well-being.

The New Testament writer Paul put it this way, ‘I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-disciple.’ (2 Timothy 1:6-7)

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By Archdeacon Kevin Russell. 

Archdeacon Russell is the Anglican Head of Denomination for Air Force and the Director of Chaplaincy Air Command. He is married to Debra and has two teenage children