Have a happy Australia Day (Middle Creek, Victoria, Australia photo by Anton K. Kressnig)
“Happy AUSTRALiA DAY to ALL the good people LiViNG iN AUSTRALiA, and thoughts of those past who made the great land downunder HOME, including the first Europeans that settled here on this day 225 years ago, and the abORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS who have lived in Australia for 50,000 years.” ~ Anton K
Google’s tribute to Australia Day on the 26th January 2013
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia, celebrated annually on the 26th January to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in New South Wales in 1788, then known as New Holland. Australia Day was first celebrated unofficially on the 26th January 1808, with the first official celebration in 1818, with the formation of New South Wales.
Today Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and first marked by the presentation of the Australian of the Year Awards on the eve of Australia Day (25th January). The Governor-General and Prime Minister of Australia announce and address the Australia Day Honours List. Australia Day is also celebrated with citizenship ceremonies, concerts and community festivals, which has made it become the biggest annual civic event in Australia.
1920 – Former Ford Motor Company executive Henry Leland launched the Lincoln Motor Company on the 26th January 1920, which he later sold to his former employer.
1925 – Paul Newman the American actor, director, race car driver, and businessman and co-founder of Newman’s Own was born on the 26th January 1925 (d. 2008).
1934 – The Apollo Theater reopened in Harlem, New York City on the 26th January 1934.
1958 – Ellen DeGeneres the American comedian, actress, and talk show host was born on the 26th January 1958.
1961 ~ Li Cunxin the Chinese-Australian ballet dancer was born on the 26th January 1961. Li Cunxin is best known for his autobiography book Mao’s Last Dancer (2003) & the 2009 film Mao’s Last Dancer. Li Cunxin is currently the Artistic Director of the Queensland Ballet.
1962 – Ranger 3 was launched to study the moon on the 26th January 1962. The space probe later missed the moon by 22,000 miles (35,400 km).
1965 – Hindi became the official language of India on the 26th January 1965.
2001 – An earthquake hit Gujarat, India on the 26th January 2001, causing over 20,000 deaths.
2004 – A whale exploded in the town of Tainan, Taiwan on the 26th January 2004, due to a build-up of gas in the decomposing sperm whale.
2005 – The Glendale train crash happened on the 26th January 2005, when 2 trains derailed killing 11 people, and injuring 200 in Glendale, California, near Los Angeles.
Today in History for the 26th January video produced by Associated Press