Wattle Day
wattle day day celebration australia first day september year start australian spring time many acacia specie commonly called wattle australia flower people wear sprig flower leaf celebrate day although national floral emblem australia particular specie named golden wattle acacia pycnantha acacia worn celebrate day day originally intended promote patriotism new nation australiawattle day emerged prominence australia early year federated nation took national civic responsibility child formal australia day could libby robin december first hobart town anniversary regatta held hobart tasmania celebrate anniversary thcentury european discovery island dutch explorer abel tasman made first reported european sighting island november estimated people attended august launceston cessation transportation celebration procession marched triumphal arch decorated wattle blossom suggested future regatta event celebrated wearing sprig silver wattle blossom acacia dealbata tied british navy blue ribbon proposal attracted ridicule silver wattle bloom august september would unobtainable november result novemberflowering black wattle acacia mearnsii substituted regatta custom wearing sprig wattle regatta persisted least theme wattle literature poetry song took early adam lindsay gordon died buried wattle blossom wave quotation poem sick stockrider wattle waltz could drink foster wattle beer wattle blossom league inaugurated w j sowden south australian chapter australian native association womens branch association aim wattle blossom league encourage australian literature music member suitable public assembly wear spray wattle blossom either real artificial distinctive badge another aim league promote national patriotic sentiment among woman australia last monthly meeting wattle blossom league held beach room june push recognition nationwide use wattle symbol first day spring given momentum formation wattle club victoria initiated archibald james campbell leading ornithologist field naturalist particular passion australian wattle specie several year club organised bush outing first day september specifically appreciation wattle natural setting campbell active member field naturalist club victoria outing went yang went werribee gorge first suggestion dedicated wattle day made campbell speech september wattle day league formed september elizabeth street sydney headquarters royal society j h maiden director sydney botanic garden president purpose present various state government unified proposal national day celebrate wattle blossom league settled wattle day september approached sowden form branch league south australia campbell k warner founded branch melbourne taken celebration three state capital city sydney melbourne adelaide although melbourne event muted affair due heavy rain day significant first organised demonstration definite day across number state ever witnessed australia september adelaide described city decked gold national wattle day league federation established formalise organisation event celebration wattle day queensland followed sydney celebrated year planting wattle tree centennial park golden wattle incorporated accessory design coat arm australia following outbreak world war attempt gazette emblem wattle day put aside confusion new south wale date nsw changed date wattle day august indigenous earlyflowering cootamundra wattle acacia baileyana could used cootamundra wattle planted sydney red cross called sprig wattle sell martin place war effort specie mostly finished flowering league granted temporary change school nsw continued use august date wattle day resistance september despite association spring resistance appears almost disappeared among poetry scottishaustralian poet bush balladeer william henry ogilvie wrote sunny country often recited past wattle day august part event mark th anniversary arrival first fleet sydney golden wattle acacia pycnantha officially proclaimed australia national floral emblem governorgeneral australia sir ninian stephen formal ceremony held national botanic garden september maria hitchcock guest government specimen acacia pycnantha planted near entry maria hitchcock armidale nsw began campaign gazetted aid abc ian mcnamara whose sunday morning national program australia focus thing australian message went resulting hundred letter support sent prime minister campaign progressing hitchcock met senator graham richardson labor party event armidale soon decision made gazette emblem special ceremony canberra australian national botanic garden september ceremony hitchcock told senator ray would personally gain letter approval gazettal national wattle day premier chief minister enlisting aid mcnamara listener new campaign letter writing began took three year goal finally achieved hitchcock bundled letter together sent canberra requesting gazettal national wattle day september year june governorgeneral bill hayden declared september year shall observed national wattle day throughout australia external territory australia wattle day association established promote national wattle day marked centenary celebration wattle day september nsw victoria south australia australian geographic magazine amongst urged public miss chance celebrate controversy january australia day light historic treatment indigenous people australian proposing wattle day alternative national celebration golden wattle australia national floral emblem addition australian state floral emblem different national significance australia wattle day country separate event related wattle tree introduced australia since french town mandelieulanapoule celebrated local flowering wattle known mimosa acacia dealbata eightday fête du mimosa winter february starting italy yellow mimosa flower hold significance symbol international womens day wattle day association