The Weight of History: Why Some Australians Can't Celebrate January 26
Reading about Peter Cutmore’s story from the Waterloo Creek massacre has left me deeply reflective today. The brutal truth of what happened on January 26, 1838, when a young boy watched his people being slaughtered, stands in stark contrast to the barbecues and celebrations happening across the country.
The survival story of Peter Cutmore, preserved through generations of oral history, tells us of a child who survived by hiding in a log where his mother placed him. It’s a testament to both the horror of colonial violence and the incredible resilience of First Nations people. His descendants are still here, still telling his story, still waiting for justice after 187 years.
These aren’t comfortable truths to face. The massacre at Waterloo Creek wasn’t an isolated incident - similar atrocities occurred at Mount Gravesend, Slaughterhouse Creek, and Myall Creek. Yet these stories remain largely untaught in our schools. Many of us grew up learning a sanitized version of history that glossed over these brutal realities.
Recently, while discussing this with friends over batch brew at my local café in Brunswick, someone made an interesting comparison to Waitangi Day in New Zealand. There, the national day acknowledges both the partnership and the painful aspects of colonization. The protests and discussions that happen on Waitangi Day are seen as legitimate parts of the occasion, not inconveniences to be brushed aside.
The voices calling for change aren’t asking us to forget our history - they’re asking us to remember all of it, including the parts that make us uncomfortable. Moving the date isn’t about erasing history; it’s about choosing a day that all Australians can celebrate together.
The suggestion of making January 26 a day of reflection while creating a new date for national celebration seems increasingly sensible. March 3, marking Australia’s legal independence from Britain in 1986, or January 1, commemorating Federation, both offer alternatives that celebrate our nation’s achievements without the baggage of invasion and dispossession.
Looking at my teenage daughter’s generation, I see a growing awareness and willingness to engage with these difficult conversations. They understand that acknowledging past wrongs doesn’t diminish our present achievements - it strengthens our ability to build a more inclusive future.
The stories of Peter Cutmore and countless others deserve to be heard, remembered, and respected. Perhaps then we can work toward a national day that truly brings all Australians together in celebration, rather than division.