Former tennis star Sam Groth calls for hesitant Australian Open organisers to recognise Australia Day – ‘should be celebrated’
Former Aussie tennis star Sam Groth has called for tournament organisers at Melbourne Park to formally recognise Australia Day.
January 26 will see the staging of the men’s final – and besides the action on-court at Rod Laver Arena, Groth wants to see the national day celebrated accordingly.
‘Australia Day should be celebrated at the Australian Open,’ the deputy leader of the Victorian Liberal Party said.
‘I’ll be celebrating…..and there is no better way to celebrate the very best of Australia than with the eyes of the country and the world on our largest major sporting event.’
Despite Groth’s plea, it is understood celebrating will be at a minimum, with Tennis Australia reportedly only planning to fly a flag as well as having local artist Beau Woodbridge – the son of tennis great Todd Woodbridge – perform the national anthem.
The development comes despite other dedicated days to promote sponsors Emirates (January 14) and Kia (January 19) as well as All Abilities Day (Jan 21), Women’s and Girls’ Day (January 23) and Pride Day (January 24).
Former Aussie tennis star Sam Groth has called for tournament organisers at Melbourne Park to formally recognise Australia Day
January 26 will see the staging of the men’s final – and besides the action on-court at Rod Laver Arena, Sam Groth wants to see the national day celebrated accordingly (pictured, fans at the Open this year)
The Australian Open has virtually removed formal recognition of the national day in recent years amid a push to change the date of Australia Day.
‘We are mindful there are differing views, and at the Australian Open we are inclusive and respectful of all,’ Tennis Australia told News Corp.
‘We acknowledge the historical significance and deep spiritual connection our First Peoples have to this land, and recognise this with a Welcome to Country on stadium screens prior to both the day and night session daily.’
Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of NSW, Arthur Phillip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove.
But, for many Indigenous people and younger Australians, it is regarded as ‘Invasion Day’ or the ‘Day of Mourning’, with protests being held in every major city each year.
In January last year, supermarkets Woolworths and Aldi proclaimed they would not be stocking Australia Day merchandise.
The move prompted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to call for a boycott of both businesses.
Growing polarisation around the national holiday is perhaps best summed up by the government-owned National Australia Day Council.
‘For some, Australia Day is a day to celebrate all the opportunities provided by living in a free, multicultural society,’ it wrote in its 2022 annual report.
‘For others, it is a chance to reflect on their own citizenship and what it means to be Australian. And for many, 26 January represents a day of sadness, mourning and reminder of colonisation.’
