This is also the time of year when arguments abound about our national day and whether January 26 is the right day to celebrate it.

Though some people tire of these arguments, I believe they are an important adjunct to whether we can move towards a Treaty with our Indigenous people.

My view on the date is publicly clear and I used my column this time last year to articulate my view I supported the idea of Australia Day.

I said then I supported the concept of having a national day to recognise those that have made a great contribution to the nation and the region.

It is also a day of great fun as the events across the north west will testify: backyard cricket, tug-of-war, lamington baking, pie eating competitions and the like will all add to the enjoyment of the day.

But I argued January 26 was not “quite” the right day for the celebrations.

January 26 commemorates the official landing of Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet in Sydney Cove, so it marks the birth of New South Wales, but it has no meaning outside of New South Wales other than a negative one from Indigenous people who mourn it as the day that began the trail of events that led to the ultimate destruction of their society.

I suggested that given that there is nothing more Australian than a long weekend and this – late summer – was the time of year to hold it.

My view is that should always be the fourth Monday of the month of January (so what if it’s not the same date each year, we manage that okay with Easter). 

This was the way it was in Victoria when I first arrived in Australia in the 1980s.

That means Australia Day would always fall between January 22 and 28 and the kids would always start school the day after Australia Day.

My position on that matter still stands – Derek Barry