Even if Australia Day wasn’t offensive to the majority of Aboriginal people I still think celebrating our national day on 26 January is a little strange.
The lot that arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 were a mixed group. The convicts were, on the whole, just minor criminals so I have some sympathy for most of them. The marines were bigger criminals than the convicts. The officers, for the most part, were either pompous dicks, or slightly crazy, and they continuously squabbled among themselves. Lt Ralph Clarke was the first whinging Pom.
The only officers I think were decent men were Captain Watkin Tench and Lt William Dawes. Governor Arthur Philip was OK I guess.