Australia
Australia, except for Western Australia, observes the Queen's Birthday on the second Monday in June. Because Western Australia celebrates Western Australia Day (formerly known as Foundation Day) on the first Monday in June, the Governor of Western Australia proclaims the day on which the state will observe the Queen's Birthday, based on school terms and the Perth Royal Show. There is no firm rule to determine this date before it is proclaimed, though it is usually the last Monday of September or the first Monday of October. Queensland previously celebrated the holiday in June, however from 2012 it will be celebrated in October, with both dates public holidays in 2012.
The day has been celebrated since 1788, when Governor Arthur Phillip declared a holiday to mark the birthday of the King of Great Britain. Until 1936 it was held on the actual birthday of the Monarch, but after the death of George V it was decided to keep the date on the second Monday in June.
The only civic occasion of note associated with the day is the release of the "Queen's Birthday honours list," in which new members of the Order of Australia and other Australian honours are named. This occurs on the date observed in the Eastern States, not the date observed in Western Australia. The Australian Football League clubs Collingwood Magpies and Melbourne Demons have traditionally played a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground each year since 2001, and sporadically before that.
The Queen's Birthday weekend and Empire Day, 24 May, were the traditional times for public fireworks displays in Australia. Although they occasionally still occur, the tradition has since been overshadowed by larger New Year's Eve fireworks. The sale of fireworks to the public was progressively banned by the states in the 1980s, and by the Australian Capital Territory on 24 August 2009. The Northern Territory is the only state or territory to still sell fireworks to the public.
Read more about this topic: Queen's Official Birthday
Famous quotes containing the word australia:
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—Alex Atkinson, British humor writer. repr. In Present Laughter, ed. Alan Coren (1982)
“I like Australia less and less. The hateful newness, the democratic conceit, every man a little pope of perfection.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)