For Aboriginal people it's invasion day, and to my people here in Sydney it was the start of many bad things... to disease... to murder... to the taking of a religion... a culture...  A suppressing of a people.  So, to me, I have mixed feelings on Australia Day.  There's much sadness, but I can see much joy for my fellow Australians, that they enjoy that day.

I would usually go to the local beach where we have a BBQ and the local council would put on free bacon and egg rolls for the public and more than likely there would be a bush band playing typical Australian songs, and we would have some typical games like thong throwing, or sack races, or that kind of thing.  And I would go down with my family and friends and catch up with a lot of the locals.

After that we would get together for a BBQ, more than likely down the beach, so its great to see all different cultures down there, enjoying their own type of food.  You can go down and enjoy anything from a souvlaki to a panang curry if you wish.

But I think in the last couple of years, it’s become a little bit complicated.  When I see people on Australia Day wearing the Australian flag or Southern Cross tattoos, I don’t think they are doing it because they are so Australian, but maybe that they are trying to assert that they are more Australian than others.

It's challenging though, because when I go to a sporting match, I like to wear the Australian flag and Southern Cross tattoos and I think in that circumstance, people are just doing it because they are proud to be Australians.  So it's a little bit difficult for me.

So I prefer to spend time with family and friends in private and just celebrate what I think Australia Day should be all about, and that's one great nation!

However, for the past two years, I have started to understand that Aboriginal people don't see it as simply as the way I, African Australian would see it.  And, to them, it is a day of invasion; it is a day that people started suffering.  Because of that second understanding of Australia Day, I do celebrate Australia day as usual, I do all the happiness and everything we do, at the end of the day I also reflect on the possible ways we can mend the two views together, so that we all can have wonderful celebrations in the future.