What Those Protests Really Made Me Think About Being Australian
Me: “hmm, to throw my Australian flag fridge magnet in the bin or not…”
Proud to Be Part of Multicultural Canberra
This weekend's events have left me reflecting on what it truly means to call Australia home. Watching the news coverage and footage from the protests has stirred up questions I've wrestled with before: "What does it mean to be Australian?" "Why do I sometimes feel conflicted about our national identity?"
As someone who's half Australian and half New Zealander, I've always felt caught between cultures. Learning about the rich Indigenous histories of both countries and the ongoing injustices our First Nations peoples face adds another layer to that complexity. let alone anything to do with migration (Which is kind of ironic to me) loving our country whilst acknowledging its flaws and working toward something better.
But here's what I've learnt through genuine conversations and experiences I’ve had.
The Real Stories That Matter
Through friendships and my church community, I've had the privilege of sitting down with people who've come to Australia for reasons that would break your heart. I've heard stories of fleeing war, escaping terrorism, surviving famine, and searching desperately for work to support families back home. When you hear these real experiences - not the headlines or the political rhetoric, but actual human stories - it puts everything into perspective.
These conversations have shaped my understanding of what Australia can be: a warm welcome, a safe home from home, a place of genuine opportunity and connection. Yes, some people experience the complete opposite, and that's something we must continue addressing. But for many of the people I've been fortunate to meet, Australia has offered them something their weren’t able to at the time.
Why Canberra Gets It Right
I can't speak for other cities, but living in Canberra fills me with gratitude every day. We're not just multicultural in name - we live it. Our embassies aren't just buildings; they're symbols of the world coming together in our backyard. Our year-round cultural events aren't just festivals; they're celebrations of the vibrant multicultural vibes we come to love.
And then there's the Multicultural Festival The colours, the food, the music, the languages all mixing together in one incredible space. It's Australia at its absolute best, and it happens right here in our city.
Building Bridges Through Authentic Connection
What strikes me most is how connection happens in the most unexpected ways. Some of my Instagram followers have told me that my content - yes, even the silly memes - has helped them understand Canberra's unique character and cultural quirks (and errrks). For people who've just arrived after escaping difficult circumstances, or coming for work etc whatever it is, these small insights into local life can be surprisingly meaningful.
It reminds me that authentic storytelling - whether through photography, social media, or just genuine conversation - has the power to build understanding. Every authentic moment we capture and share contributes to a broader narrative about who we are as a community.
Moving Forward with Purpose
This weekend's events were deeply troubling. Seeing extremist rhetoric wrapped in our national symbols feels like a betrayal of everything our flag could represent. But I refuse to let those voices define what it means to be Australian.
Instead, I choose to focus on the Canberra I know: diverse, welcoming, and constantly growing stronger through our differences. I'm proud to call this multicultural city home,.
To everyone who follows along with my work and shares in this community: thank you for being part of something bigger. Whether you've lived here your whole life or arrived yesterday, you contribute to what makes Canberra special.
Our strength isn't in spite of our multiculturalism - it's because of it.
Turn off the news, talk to someone, be kind, have a laugh and make memories - life is too short to be divided and against one another, there’s so much to be learnt from one another, including myself, and I know personally that I can and need to be better at this.
And. if anything, we can all come together under a green banner after the massive canberra minor premiership win… now that, is special :P
Ready to share your authentic story?
Business owners: Let's document the real heart of your business - your team, your community connections, your genuine impact
Event organisers: Planning a cultural celebration or community gathering? Let's capture those authentic moments that truly matter
Community groups: Your work building bridges in our city deserves to be seen and celebrated
I'm currently booking for autumn shoots, and I'm particularly excited to work with businesses and organisations that share these values of inclusivity and authentic community building.
Get in touch: Send me a DM or visit www.themotzmedia.com/contact to chat about how we can tell your story in a way that celebrates the multicultural spirit that makes Canberra special.
Blog was written by Daniel Morton-Jones with the assistance of AI for the purposes of SEO and formatting