The Order of Australia Medal recipient for service to the Border’s Indigenous community spoke after Albury deputy mayor Amanda Cohn said she had been told by Wiradjuri figures they would like a date change.

“There are people from our local Wiradjuri community who have told me they would prefer celebrations were not held on January 26,” Cr Cohn told The Border Mail.

Mrs Rooke, who has conducted Welcome to Country addresses at Albury Australia Day formalities, believed most Wiradjuri would like the date switched.

“I’d like to see it on Wattle Day, that’s Australia’s national flower and I think it’s beautiful with all the yellow,” the elder said.

“It’s also the 1st of September and a new beginning for spring.”

RELATED:

Wattle Day has been marked nationally since 1992, but its history dates back to 1910 in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

The Golden Wattle was officially declared the national floral emblem in 1988.

Mrs Rooke said she expected Australia Day would eventually move from January 26 with attitudes towards having the day on the arrival of the First Fleet changing.

“I think the younger generation think differently to the older generation and the younger generation are all for being together,” she said.