January 26 is a date that continues to divide Australia. For some it is “Australia Day”. For many First Peoples, it is Invasion Day, Survival Day, or a Day of Mourning.

In this episode of Community Conversations, host Sarah Sherry (Clothing The Gaps) is joined by Laura Thompson (Gunditjmara woman, CEO and co-founder of Clothing The Gaps) and Phil Jenkyn (OAM, barrister and community activist, co-convener of the Australia Long Weekend idea) to unpack why January 26 is not a date to celebrate, how community pressure is shifting public perception, and a new proposal that aims to create a more inclusive national moment.

Together they explore symbolism and policy, cultural safety, truth-telling, and a practical alternative: an Australia Long Weekend set on the second last Monday in January, designed to keep a summer long weekend while quarantining January 26 as a day for mourning and reflection.

Key takeaways

• January 26 carries deep hurt for First Nations people, and the day often brings heightened racism and division.
  
  
• Symbolism matters: changing an administrative date can be a meaningful first step toward larger justice and truth-telling.
  
  
• The Australia Long Weekend proposal aims to keep a summer celebration without anchoring it to colonisation.
  
  
• Momentum is growing because the issue now impacts many Australians, including new citizens who feel uncomfortable with January 26 ceremonies.
  
  
• Change requires respectful dialogue, accuracy, and shared responsibility from community, media, business, and government.
  
  
• Links and resources:
  • Sign petition
    
    
  • Australia Long Weekend website 
    
    
  • Clothing The Gaps Not A Date To Celebrate campaign
    
    
  • Learn more about January 26 and its history 

In this podcast, Co-Founders of Clothing the Gaps – Laura Thompson (Gunditjamara) and Sarah Sheridan catch up with Felicity Cull. Felicity is Head of Digital Content (aka, Social Media Expert!) at a Strategic Communications Agency - Pesel and Carr.  

Tune in to listen to our stories of how we are working to keep Clothing The Gaps a safe Blak platform especially, in the lead up to the Voice Referendum on Oct 14 and beyond. Felicity also, shares her top tips, so Mob can safely read the comments on social media.

Read more in the blog: https://www.clothingthegaps.com.au/blogs/blogs/read-the-comments 

This casual conversational podcast with co-founders of Clothing The Gaps, Laura and Sarah plus Senator Stewart explores the role allyship and political fashion in the lead up to the referendum for a First  Nation Voice to parliament and recognition in the constitution.

The podcast yarn has many tips for how everyday Australians and business can stand in solidarity with First Nations people at this time. 

We also share excitedly and emotionally about the  'Dress That Says Yes' and the fashion moment we created, when the Senator wore the couture gown Clothing The Gaps made her to the Parliamentary Mid winter ball.


More about:
Senator Jana Stewart is a proud Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman from North-West Victoria, and a mother of two.

Jana is the youngest First Nations woman to be elected in Federal Parliament, and the first Aboriginal Labor Senator for Victoria. From her work at Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and the Child Protection System, all the way to the steps of parliament – Jana has never been afraid to stand up for others.

Laura Thompson is a proud Gunditjmara woman for the Western district of Victoria, and mother to three teenagers. Laura is the co-founder and CEO of Clothing The Gaps she is also sister-in-law to Senator Stewart.  Laura has an educational background in public health and never expected to be running a clothing brand!

Sarah Sheridan is deputy CEO and Co-founder of Clothing The Gaps. Sarah  is non-Indigenous and grew up in country Victoria - she meet Laura  whilst doing her Health Sciences student placement at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service back in 2013 - they have been working side by side ever since.

Clothing The Gaps is an Aboriginal Social Enterprise and B-Corp. We registered as business in 2020. We unite people through fashion and cause. 

Spirit of the March watch YouTube video.
The reasons at the heart of why First Nations people March. 

Listen to the words of Joanne and appreciate that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people march they don't just walk for the reason outlined on the event poster - it's much deeper and personal than that! We march for our ancestors, we march for justice, we march for equality.... 

Spoken by:
Robbie Thorpe (Gunai Kurnai)
Dougie Briggs (Yorta Yorta, Wirundjeri)
Courtney Ugle (Noongar)
Medika Thorpe (Gunai Kurnai, Narungga, Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara)
Nick Pearce (Co-founder, HoMie)
Ellen Jacobsen (Social Impact Manager, HoMie)

Written by:
Joanne Dwyer (Gunditjamra)

Directed by:
Clothing The Gaps

Sound by:
Tori Yuksel

Music by:
Daen Ellis (Gunai, Yorta Yorta, Waka- Waka and Gunditjmara)

Jill Gallagher talks to podcast host Paul Stewart and shares personal family stories about why she will be voting 'yes'  at the upcoming referendum for a First Nations voice to parliament.  She reflects on her time as Treaty Commissioner for Victoria and what she heard from the Local Mob when she travelled the state talking Treaty. If you enjoy story telling and a laugh along the way  - you will love this!

Jillian Gallagher AO (born 1955) is a Gunditjmara from Australia who has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) since 2001. As a single mother in her twenties Gallagher was accepted into a training scheme for young Aboriginal people at the Museum of Victoria. She worked on the return of the Murray Black Collection and served as manager of the heritage branch of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Victoria) before taking up a position at VACCHO in 1998. In 2017 Gallagher was appointed Commissioner of the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission until the voting period ended in October 2019. Gallagher was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2009 and the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2015. She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2013.

Millie and Tarneen joined us on our  podcast to answer your referendum questions submitted via the Clothing The Gaps Instagram - they speak openly and emotionally about why they are a 'yes' and how it is all feeling in First Nations Communities right now.

Millie Telford (she/her) is a Bundjalung and South Sea Islander woman and currently working as the First Nations Justice Director at Australian Progress. Prior to this role, Millie co-founded Seed Mob, to support a grassroots network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to protect country, culture and communities from the causes and impacts of climate change. 

Tarneen (they/them) is a proud Gunditjmara, Bindal, Yorta Yorta person and Torres Strait Islander from Mer and Erub Islands. Tarneen is a  community organiser for Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance, working on Invasion Day, Black Deaths in Custody, and Stop the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Community campaigns. They are a filmmaker, writer, community organiser and currently working as the First Nations Events & Program Manager with Australian Progress. 

Googzy is a Gunnai and Gunditjmara man, he is a mental health advocate and the first Indigenous Australian to take on The Great World Race!

What is The Great world Race? It is an event that takes on 7 Marathons in 7 consecutive days across 7 Continents! That is a total of 295kms of running for the week with roughly 68 hours of flying time!

Googzy shares his story about his family, depression and how he was floating through life before he got the mental release he needed through running.

Now Googzy uses his running as a platform to show people that it's ok to ask for help and mental health issues isn't something that you should be ashamed of. 

Googzy is living proof you can struggle with mental health, but still live a happy life and do things you may never have thought were possible.

Donate to Googzy and help him on his mission to run The Great World Race and breakdown the stigma of mental health in men.

Follow Googzy journey on fitness_dadda on Instagram.

Listen to a yarn around the table with Elvis, a Ngarrindjeri man about his dream to play college football. Here his incredible story of how he grew up in Doveton (Bunerong Country) and got discovered!

Clothing The Gaps Conversations

Shades of Deadly Campaign  - Challenging stereotypes. Celebrating identities. 

This campaign was created to challenge stereotypes of First Nation people, create a platform for culture and a safe space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to embrace their identities.

It's an opportunity to educate the wider community about the diversity of First Nations people and experiences in Australia.

It's not about judging each other by colour or appearance.

It's about our connection to Community, culture, land and people which shapes us and our identity. 

Identity is a product of stories and journeys that shape our spirit, values and decision making.

Our roots, family, Community and self gives us that identity.

Stewy sits down with Robbie Thorpe well respected grassroots Aboriginal Community activist who has dedicated his life to challenging government, systems and polices.