SMILES dominated on Australia Day, but there was a sobering incident that gave many pause for thought.
Everything started according to plan with barbecues, swims at the beach and citizenship ceremonies happening all over Tasmania _ and Australia.
It's a special day for many, but particularly for those individuals who pledge allegiance to their new country, and those recognised for service to their respective communities.
There are always so many heart-warming and inspiring stories that emerge from the day.
Alongside the Australia Day celebrations, however, there are underlying questions about our national identity which are rarely and reluctantly confronted in the political sphere.
For example, should we keep celebrating it on January 26?
It's not something many politicians talk about because, for the most part, the day is a chance for them to smile, shake hands and do feel-good work in the community.
The events that marred Australia Day in Canberra, however, put that issue front and centre.
The images of Prime Minister Julia Gillard being bundled away by security from a chaotic and volatile situation were striking.
The incident has highlighted the Aboriginal community's call for a new Australia Day date _ albeit for all the wrong reasons.
Aboriginal leaders have been trying to generate national support for their campaign to change the date of Australia Day for some time.
Most people aren't attached to the date of January 26 _ which marks the arrival of the First Fleet of British convicts at Botany Bay in 1788 _ but rather the celebration.
However, for Aboriginal communities that date marks the death of ancestors and the loss of land and culture.
With 365 days of the year, logic says there must be another date that can be settled on which is inclusive of all Australians _ including the country's first people _ rather than divisive.
What about February 13? (The day that former prime minister Kevin Rudd made his famous sorry speech?)
Or January 1? (The day our federation was formed _ though the fact it is New Year's Day makes it unpopular.)
If there was agreement about January 26 being inappropriate as solely a celebration there could be debate around a new date, or other ways of commemorating it _ yet the issue isn't even on the political radar.
If anything, the angry scenes of protesters in Canberra will set the debate back a notch, rather than move it forward.
That would be a shame considering another 200 people gathered peacefully in Hobart to make the same point.
The annual rally started in Launceston five years ago and has grown in number each year.
For them, so-called ``invasion day'' is a sobering occasion.
They are hoping political leaders will wake up to the fact that January 26 is not an appropriate date on which to celebrate our nation's past as well as its future.
Of course we should celebrate Australia Day, but we should choose a time that is all-encompassing of our diverse populace.
In fact, while we're on the topic of change, how about the talk of a republic? Australia is an independent and forward-thinking nation in every respect except our constitution which enshrines the Queen as our sovereign.
Also, how about the flags we love waving? Could we take the plunge and choose a flag that is original in its design and embraces the breadth of our history and populace?
If there was a political will, there would be a way.
However, many are offended at such hefty topics being discussed on Australia Day. How un-fun. How . . . ``un-Australian''.
Yet surely, that is the perfect occasion in which to reflect on not just who we are, but where we are headed.
To go further than patting ourselves on the back for what a great job we've done, and to strive to be better.
Email a friend