to THE AGE
Depreciators of our custom of celebrating on Australia Day the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 (Letters, 21/8) forget how much there is in that event worthy of continued affirmation today. Captain Phillip, a man of sterling courage and integrity, led a group of other very brave men to successfully establish an outpost of his culture in a frighteningly remote and puzzling land. Without their daring and boldness, the nation we live in today with such good fortune would not have been later established (1901) after the pioneering phase of the setting up of the colonies.
The Eureka Rebellion, the Harvester decision, Federation, the Furneaux Islands Festival - none of these can match the human heroism and dedication of Phillip and his men, the drama of the landing or the relevance to us all of the event.
NJ, Belgrave, Vic