January 26.

January 26 in Australia is a public holiday. It involves many fun filled celebrations put on by local and state governments. It sees lots of picnics, barbecues, concerts and fireworks. 

It is the anniversary of the 1788 landing of Britain’s First Fleet which began the era of colonisation. It was also when Indigenous people began being oppressed - massacred, dispossessed of their lands and cut off from their culture. 

The photo was taken of a 1938 protest led by Aboriginal elder Jack Patten. Protests continue each January 26 in increasing numbers joining together Aboriginal and non aboriginal people to stop the celebration of what they call Invasion Day. 

Jack Patten (1905-1957) worked tirelessly to improve aboriginal rights until his early death in a car accident. His photo is an extra.