People have gathered early to watch the sunrise on Australia Day, as the nation prepares for a more subdued day due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Sydney, the sun rose on an Opera House lit up with an artwork by NSW Indigenous artist and Yaegl woman Frances Belle-Parker.
The WugulOra ceremony, meaning One Mob, marked the beginning of events at the city's Barangaroo Reserve.
In a welcome to country, Yvonne Weldon, chairperson of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, called for Australia to own its past.
"My people are the oldest living culture of the world," she said.
"Our stores aren't myths, they are this land's history.
"So let us all acknowledge and remember the many sacrifices of my people, the sacrifices then and the sacrifices now."
Ms Weldon also called for unity "regardless of what date or day you call it".
At a ceremony in Canberra, National Australia Day Council chair Danielle Roche said the past year had "thrown every imaginable challenge to our nation".
"Twelve months ago, Australia was only beginning to emerge from a summer of bushfires unprecedented in our lifetimes. Not before the last fires had been extinguished, coronavirus reached our shores.
"In a few short months, it would go on to become a global pandemic, putting our society, our economy, and our people under unthinkable strain. Australians did what Australians do in times of crisis, we came together, we responded as one, with compassion, empathy, and with courage.
"Today we reflect on the sacrifice of thousands of front-line workers who kept our people safe and kept our nation going.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Nine Radio Australia January 26 was about being thankful for being an Australian.
"Of course, there are many controversial issues that go around things around this day.
"But today, it's a day just to come together, be thankful for being Australian.
"That's what is it. We all are [Australian], regardless of what are stories are, our experiences, our differences or disagreements that might happen."
Raft of events planned
While some Australians are set to celebrate the day, others see the date as a day of mourning.
A raft of events of both celebration and protest are planned around the country.
Early today, a Survival Day dawn service was held in the Victorian regional city of Ballarat honouring First Nations people who died in massacres and frontier wars.
Deb Clark from the Koori Action Engagement Group said the service was live streamed due to the pandemic, and she hoped it allowed more communities across the country to be educated about the significance of the day.
"Anything that represents a day that began many of the things that changed the lives of people who came before us is not something to be celebrated," she said.
"Yet we don't want to focus on the negatives, we simply want to have a conversation that allows the history to be told."
More than 7,000 people have registered their interest in attending protests in Sydney, which are currently limited to 500 people under coronavirus restrictions.
Rally organisers submitted a request to Health Minister Brad Hazzard for an exemption to the cap.
A decision had not been made when the Aboriginal Legal Services, representing the organisers, applied to the NSW Supreme Court.
Shortly before the hearing, Health Minister Brad Hazzard refused the exemption.
Organisers of the Melbourne rally, scheduled for 10:30am (AEDT), have urged attendees to pre-register, but Premier Daniel Andrews has urged Victorians not to attend the event.
Australia Day in Melbourne is usually marked with a parade through the city, but Mr Andrews also cancelled the event to prevent potential coronavirus transmission.
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2021-01-25 22:11:42Z
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