Australia Day 2013

Australia Day
Australia Day on Sydney Harbour, 2004
Also called	Foundation Day, Anniversary Day, Survival Day, Invasion Day, Day of Mourning (in 1938 & 1970)
Observed by	Australian citizens and residents
Type	National
Significance	Date of landing of First Fleet in Port Jackson in 1788
Date	26 January
Observances	Family gatherings, picnics and barbecues; parades; citizenship ceremonies; Australia Day Honours List; Australian of the Year presentation

Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, New South Wales in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of Australia (then known as New Holland).
Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on 26 January date back to 1808, with the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales held in 1818. It is marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on Australia Day Eve, announcement of the Australia Day Honours list and addresses from the Governor-General and Prime Minister. It is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, unless it falls on a weekend in which case the following Monday is a public holiday instead. With community festivals, concerts and citizenship ceremonies, the day is celebrated in large and small communities and cities around the nation. Australia Day has become the biggest annual civic event in Australia.

So now you are all up to speed with what Australia day is all about.  Here in Texas, Australians come together to enjoy the day.  We drove to Austin for the event.  Austin is an hours drive north from San Antonio and this is where Boomerang's Gourmet Veggie and Meat Pies shop is located (BoomerangsPies.com will provide more information).  They make great Australian meat pies, sausage rolls, lamingtons and Anzac biscuits.  All traditional Australian fare which tasted as good as our mother's used to make for us when we were kids.

Here is an example of the great Ozzie tradition - the Original Meat Pie with mashed potato and gravy, served with Coopers Beer.

The sausage roll with tomato sauce was just as good as we had remembered it to be.

 No Australian get together would be complete without beer and you can see that there was a lot of this beverage consumed.

As you can see some of the folks dressed for the occasion.

 This jumper (sweater ) was bought on E bay.

Of course there were a number of activities throughout the day and at 5 pm the pie eating competitions started.  The adults went first.

Followed by the children.   The winners were rewarded for their efforts with free pies for the next year. 

On our return home on Sunday we shared a belated celebration with our friends and introduced them to Australia meat pies, sausage rolls, pavlova, lamingtons and Anzac biscuits.  

Mary Alice, Albert, Keith and Soojin are now honorary Australians, all they to complete the process is an Aussie accent.

This is our 5th Australia Day away from home but everywhere we have been for it we have enjoyed great times with friends.   

Warmest wishes to all.

Bev and Ross