My Travel Logbook

Very Aussie way: Australia Day’s fireworks celebration in Sydney was bloody good. In my opinion, 2007 Australia Day’s fireworks at Darling Harbour outperformed Sydney New Year Eve 2006 Fireworks. When we talk about fireworks in Sydney, people would normally associate Sydney with the New Year Eve Fireworks. Perhaps, the event has been ‘over-sold’ world-widely.

While four unknown singers were singing Advance Australia Fair, a boat carrying choir sailing into the harbour. It was a magical moment. It reminded me the scene of the Australian National Anthem was sung by Human Nature and Julie Anthony during Sydney 2000 Olympic Opening Ceremony. 

The drums and fireworks choreography was astounding as the combination gave us orchestrated live performance. This was something lack of during the New Year Eve 2006 Fireworks.  

Perhaps, due to the fireworks were confined in much smaller area compared to the New Year Eve Fireworks, the impact of the fireworks was much significant. At one stage, we could hardly see the fireworks as the sky were penetrated by the smoke caused by the fireworks. 

 

 

Interesting stories/ facts about Australia:

26 January 1788 was the date on which the First Fleet, under Captain Arthur Phillip arrived at Sydney Cove and set up the Colony of New South Wales. First Fleet is the name given to the 11 ships which sailed from Great Britain in May 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales. It was a convict settlement, marking the beginnings of transportation to Australia. (1) Consequently, it used be a controversial arguments on naming January 26 as the national day. 

Australia Day is also called Foundation Day, Anniversary Day, Survival Day, Invasion Day, Day of Mourning and Protest (by some Indigenous Australians) Australia’s six colonies federated into one nation on 1 January 1901. Western Australia was not even claimed by Britain until 19 September 1829. (2)

Advance Australia Fair is not the first and only national anthem. The song was firstly performed in 1878, but only gained its status as national anthem in 1984 to replace God Save the Queen. A national plebiscite was held in 1977 to choose the National Song. Advance Australia Fair received 43.6% of the vote, defeating the three alternatives: Waltzing Matilda (28.5%), Song of Australia (9.7%), and the then-current national anthem God Save the Queen (18.7%). (3) Waltzing Matilda is still an “unofficial anthem” until now. Widely sang during sports to cheer the Aussie teams.

Perhaps, former Cabinet Minister Amanda Vanstone, who was ditched by John Howard during recent Cabinet reshuffle thought the history of Advance Australia Fair was not dramatic enough by creating unleashing her new national anthem recently. What’s more laughable: It took her 6 years to write the lyrics with intention to make Australians feel proud of their country.

Advance Australia Fair Lyrics

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature’s gifts Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing, “Advance Australia fair!”
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We’ll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing “Advance Australia fair!”

For more fireworks pictures, browse my photo gallery - cedimage.com

(1) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Fleet
(2) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Day
(3) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_Australia_Fair