Special days
Today is Labour Day in Western Australia, in celebration of the achievement of the Eight Hour Day. As I understand it, Labour Day was moved to March during the Cold War for fear that the union movement would be associated with Communism if it was celebrated on 1 May, which was (and is) the traditional, global labour holiday. It should be moved back.
Tomorrow is another labour movement commemoration. International Women’s Day mourns the deaths of 140 women in the Triangle Factory Fire in New York in 1911. It also celebrates the surviving women’s courage in establishing a trade union in the following years. It is a celebration of equal rights for women.
And if tomorrow is IWD, then tomorrow must be my birthday.
Wouldn’t it be better to leave the holiday in March, while the weather is still warm and people can make use of and enjoy it?
After all, it’s a holiday and that’s what they are for.
Proportionally, very few people observe the real meaning of any of public holidays. We live to enjoy life, not to attend ceremonies.
Happy birthday for tomorrow!
Paul—
People definitely observe the real meaning of Australia Day, Anzac Day, and Christmas (for example). I think it would be worthwhile celebrating the Labour Day for the right reasons, and I think putting it on the right day would be a step in the right direction.
(Besides, I prefer cold weather to the muggy heat we’re suffering today!)
Martin—
I probably shouldn’t have mentioned my birthday under the heading, “Special Days.” Frankly, I don’t think there’s much special about birthdays — “Congratulations, you didn’t die this year…”
Robert, I know this is off topic, but as a member of the ALP in QLD I’ve been following your recent electon closely. To date, there’s been no real estimate of the final make-up in the Legislative Council (thankfully we only have one House in Qld). Do you have any more recent figures, other than those from Antony Green? You guys really have to get that one-vote one-value legislation through, even if it means shoving it through before the next Council meets in May. This is a really good blog, and enjoy it heaps. Keep up the good work. Greg from Brisbane.
Thanks, Greg.
Poll Bludger is the best place to find the latest results. At this stage there is a disturbing possibility that the vile Christian Democratic Party will pick up a seat. That would put 1V1V in the same position it is in now — 18-16, not a big enough majority to get it through. However, if the CDP misses out it will be a different ballgame.
However, the new MLCs don’t take their seats until May. That gives a brief window in which 1V1V could be passed. A retiring (well, dumped) Liberal has said he is open to the possibility of crossing the floor to support 1V1V, so that could be the extra vote needed. However, the Greens have backtracked and are now supporting pure 1V1V in the lower house. This is the ideal option, but Labor was elected having promised the compromise deal. We’ll see how it goes. Fingers crossed!
Hmm, I beg to differ on your take of the observance of the meaning of public holidays in Australia. Christmas is probably the most well observed, but I still believe that Australia would be struggling to get 20% church attendance, let along a majority.
Even Anzac Day; for all the media coverage that it gets, I simply cannot believe that a majority of Australians get themselves out to parades. Certainly no-one that I know does. Now, no disrespect to those we are supposed to be remembering, but the media really is beating it up into a pseudo-religious jingoist event, as Terry Lane pointed out in the Sunday Age a couple of weeks back. Your average punter treats the day as just another holiday, for better or for worse.
Australia Day is the least “officially” observed of all of those mentioned so far. Virtually everyone, aside from the insane flag-waving types, consider it as just another day off. Witness the grumbling from Victoria when Kennett turned it from a holiday Monday (hence three-day weekend) into observing it on the day that it falls (which perversely results in illicit four-day weekends when it falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday).
I seriously believe that the public holiday is under threat in Australia. There are continually politicians (not to mention opinion pieces in papers) complaining about Australians having too many public holidays – the reality is that, compared to other first-world nations, we are below the average.
Queens Birthday has long been in many people’s sights. I’m no monarchist, but hey, it’s a holiday. I’d take the day off to celebrate her getting a haircut, if I could. Easter Tuesday mysteriously disappeared sometime in the last twenty years, and I’m sure that Easter Monday isn’t far off. Australia Day is another target, with many calling for it to be replaced by Federation Day … and hey, that falls on the first of January, two public holidays for the price of one, how convenient!
How many areas get their respective Show Days as a holiday anymore? Melbourne certainly doesn’t.
Seriously, I believe there is no better way for people to appreciate the meaning of Labour Day than for people to get a real holiday, and what better way is there of doing that than having it in a month where they can use it properly (ie, March), rather than it being wasted, stuck in the house in pre-winter May?
It’s time to take back our public holidays; holidays for the sake of it! We could start by renaming most of them Bank Holiday, just like they do in the UK.
Happy birthday, Rob!
Labour Day’s always been in May in Queensland, and that’s the way I like it. Too hot to march in Brisbane in March!
Your birthday is on International Women’s Day? Mine is sort of close to Australia Day. Wanna swap?
Hope you had a good one.
Well bugger me. Happy birthday, I turned 23 yesterday (7th) myself. Coincidence much…
A happy birthday, hope you’re currently enjoying it.
Happy birthday Robert – a pisces – I knew you were a kindred spirit.
I think it’s fabulous when one has another year in which one doesn’t depart, well done old chap.
Best of luck for the next year. Cheers, Ab.