Two Special Days This Week

There’s no end to the number of special days we can celebrate in Australia. I don’t feel particularly stressed from having missed Data Protection Day and Library Lovers’ Day this year, but this week there are two days that I don’t think should go unnoticed.

Today, March 21 is Harmony Day which was established to recognise the multicultural nature of our society, to recommit to tolerance, goodwill and understanding for people from all groups in our community and to say no to racism.

Also this week, on March 24, we celebrate National Close the Gap Day which acknowledges the need for us to close the life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are still dying 10 to 17 years younger than other Australians.

Such special days are an opportunity for us to pause in the midst of our busy lives to think about the great things that are a part of living in the lucky country, but they also give us cause to reflect on those aspects of our society that need significant change. I have to say that my life has been enriched by relationships with people of many different cultures, but even as I give thanks for those relationships I have to hang my head in shame as I think about injustices that have been experienced by the original Australians and may yet be experienced by those who are finding their way to Australia in rickety boats as we speak to escape hardship, poverty and war.

To gain a better understanding of the issues raised through these two special days this week I encourage you to find out about Harmony Day at http://www.harmony.gov.au/ and Close the Gap Day at http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/initiatives/pages/closingthegap.aspx.