PORTLAND ALP branch president Andrew Govanstone has thrown his support behind transitioning January 26 from a day of celebration to a day of reflection as the divisive day edges closer.
Earlier this month, Gunditjmara man Chris Saunders spoke to the Portland Observer about the topic, with Mr Govanstone expressing it encouraged him to also share his opinion.
Over the past 30 years, Mr Govanstone has forged a close-knit relationship with region’s Indigenous community, something he said he was extremely grateful for.
These relationships have been so strong, Mr Govanstone was even given the honour of creating the reflective garden at the base of Heywood’s Indigenous war memorial water tower along with his wife Tilley.
“Those relationships have been a real eye-opener for me,” he said.
“They have enabled me to step outside of the ‘white’ mindset and look deeper at the relationships between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.
“I have realised the importance of improving dialogue surrounding not just January 26 but those relationships and how we move into the future.”
Mr Govanstone said it was vital community members took the time to understand the Indigenous perspective on the matter.
“I understand why January 26 can never be a day that unites the country - the day marks the beginning of an apocalypse for Indigenous people,” he said.
“If a day to celebrate our unity is the objective, I don’t believe it can be on January 26.
“I can’t suggest a different date, but I can say Australia is an oddity in the sense it’s the only country - as far as I know - which celebrates is national day on the day of colonisation – this is something we truly must reflect on and rectify.”
Mr Govanstone said people like Mr Saunders were moving the conversation in the right direction, with a date change gaining significant traction over recent years.
“As we mature as a nation, I believe Australians are beginning to understand the significance of the day and there are more calls to change the date than ever before,” he said.
“I ask people who don’t already to take January 26 as a day to reflect and consider the feelings of the Indigenous community.
“I attended the event Chris Saunders put together last year at the Ploughed Field and was proud to see so many community members there.
“Unfortunately, Chris had to make the tough decision to cancel this year’s event, but I am certain I’ll be there again next year.
“Those ceremonies are going to be instrumental in making a change and I commend him on his efforts in the space.”
Mr Govanstone encouraged the community to share their thoughts on the date and to keep the conversation around the national day going.
“Given Portland’s history as the first settlement in Victoria, we should be leading the way in reconciliation,” he said.
“We’re in the position to create real change here and it all starts with conversation.
“We need to amend our past wrongs and look to a brighter future.”