Jan 26 (today Australia time, and tomorrow western hemisphere time) is Australia's national holiday (my first since aquiring Australian citizenship). It commemorates the anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove on Jan 26, 1788, where they founded the first permanent European settlement in Australia, which would later go on to become the city of Sydney. So to all our Aussie members, Happy Australia Day! (from the newest Aussie in the place)

Hey Jeff,

Congrats and welcome! 

Not a bad old place to claim stakes in. :)

From Sydney here too. Happy Oz Day to yourself and everyone else too!!

Thanks.
I'm a dual US/australian citizen, but I'm still in the US.

Ahhh.  Planning on jetting back and forth or eventually moving over?

Melbourne, Australia here. Happy Australia Day to one and all !!!

When I get older I plan to retire there.
My grandmother was born in Wollongong, and I'm registered on the electoral roll there (it's listed as my "home municipality"), so when I eventually move down there that's probably where I'll go.
But not until after taking about a year to tour the entire country

So you've never actually been here yet?  Neat that you should feel  it''s part home even so. 

My daughter is citizen by descent.   My son was born here but lives in Florida.  I grew up in Europe and travelled most everywhere with a show biz career - but doing a full tour of Oz is yet to be done,

So your plan is what I should have done.

One day!

Cheers Mathman!  Hope rain has dampened the fires your way.

Yeah, I follow Australian news and politics regularly tho.
it does kind of feel strange to be a citizen of a counttry I've never been to, but it gives me a more "real" connection to the country my family came from.
I've read just about everything I could about Australia all my life, and watched every australia doco, and most aussies I talk to are surprised at how much I know about the country, its culture and its history.
I also love Aussie country music. My fave singer is Slim Dusty, with John Williamson running a close second.
Sometimes whern I talk, bits and pieces of my grandmother's aussie accent pop out in my speech. And when talking to Aussies, I use aussie slang instead of american slang because it saves me having to explain what I mean.
I heard that last week the bushfires in Vic caused a power outage.

Happy Oz day to you as well - have a couple of cold tinnies to celebrate with the rest of us Aussies :)

Quote: "..I follow Australian news and politics regularly tho.
it does kind of feel strange to be a citizen of a counttry I've never been to, but it gives me a more "real" connection to the country my family came from."

I find this intriguing and very touching really.  Especially since I lack the same towards my birth country even.  I lived there and left it in less than ideal circumstances as a child, but  unlike my brother who can be very attached to his heritage, I feel very little connection. Strange isn't it?

Yet with all my gipsying around the world I always called Australia home.

I'm surprised more Aussies haven't raised  a hand up in this thread yet.  I think there are quite a number of us here.  Maybe they're all out there waving the flag or barbequing or what not. :)

The weather down here in Bendigo has been too good to be stuck inside at the 'puter.

Just enjoying the day, the weather and wondering if we will ever see any water so we have a lawn again....

Been on water restrictions for 3 years now......

Best wishes to all fellow Aussies....

The weather is just perfect!! sitting on the verandah, typing on laptop ;)

Quote - When I get older I plan to retire there.
My grandmother was born in Wollongong, and I'm registered on the electoral roll there (it's listed as my "home municipality"), so when I eventually move down there that's probably where I'll go.
But not until after taking about a year to tour the entire country

 

LOL What a small world, that is were I live.

The weather is fantastic here as well, but I have a bad bout of bronchitis at the moment so I won't be going too far today.