GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Traditionally, Australia Day is celebrated on 26 January each and every year to mark British settlement in our country some 219 years ago, but this year, headlines of traditional Australia Day celebrations have been put aside, and instead, have been replaced with controversies.

Sydney was the home to the Big Day Out on Australia Day, but was continually publicized for the wrong reason after it was originally implied that the Australian flag was banned; later to be proven incorrect, it was only suggested that flags should not be taken to avoid racial slurs, a move which was condemned by both spectators and politicians. One organizer declared the Australian flag to be a "gang colour".

17 people were also arrested in South Australia for creating brawls in Adelaide for disorderly behaviour. This was out of a crowd of 500 which became "unruly" throughout the evening. According to locals, the dispute was a part of a trend that continued to grow for the local area.

One of the regular headline events this summer has been bushfires which have ignited well entruly across Australia; and Australia Day this year was no exception with a shopping centre as well as private homes being damaged due to fires ignited by revelers in Western Australia.

And how could we possibly forget our traditional Lamb campaign on Australian televisions by none other than Sam Kekovich advising Australians in an ever so subtle manner to 'Vote lamb on Australia Day'.

What is intended to be a day of celebration, now appears to be anything other; with events criticized of many levels, damage being inflicted to homes and public centres by party animals, and opinionated commentators who continually receive criticism all over a piece of meat. Let's hope next year's Australia Day is better.