To Aboriginals, it is becoming known as ``Survival Day.''

But full marks to local Tharawal descendant Glenda Chaulker for her dignified speech at Koshigaya Park in which she highlighted the sad and true historical reality but still made her fellow Aussies feel so welcome and valued.

Because to most of us, I think Australia Day is simply a celebration of our lifestyle, our freedoms and our values as the Land of the Fair Go.

Which is good.

As long as we in the words of the great song I Am Australian ``share a dream and sing with one voice'', long may it thrive.

It might come as a shock to the Gen Ys to learn that these huge local Australia Day celebrations are still a very new phenomenon only picking up momentum in the 1980s.

As a kid born in the 1960s I can barely remember, as I grew up, January 26 being anything else than a quiet excuse for a public holiday. There was certainly no big community celebration in the local park like there is now.

This edition of our paper has five whole pages dedicated to Australia Day activities but when I looked at our edition from January 27, 1970, it did not feature a single word.

Back then, I guess Empire Day was still the big party.

It was pointed out yesterday how many young people were out in force, all with big smiles on their faces munching on snags and having a go at the thong-throwing.

Well, we are supposed to be ``young and free'', after all. Happy birthday, Australia.

There are more than 80 local people struggling every day with CF, or cystic fibrosis.

So our wonderful, big-hearted reporter Michelle Fenech has organised yet another annual Macarthur swimathon on Saturday, February6, at Wollondilly Leisure Centre in Picton.

We're trying to get as many Campbelltonians there as possible to swim a few laps. All money raised last year it was $36,000 will go direct to Cystic Fibrosis NSW.

Please support Michelle's effort. Email her at mfenech @fairfaxmedia.com.au to learn how to join in.