Public holidays - to have or not to have

Is the commemoration of the Queen Birthday on designated and separate public holidays in our respective States and Territories still relevant in modern Australia? Instead, should we not honour Australians who have made an extraordinary contribution to Australia with a public holiday?

Would it not be befitting to bestow Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896), as Australia's "Father of Federation", with a public holiday? Parkes' "Tenterfield Address" in 1889 inspired Australians to seriously push for the separate colonies to form a'... national government for all Australia.'

As exclaimed by historian Arthur Jose, "Macquarie made the Australian gaol a colony...Wentworth made it a home for free men...It was Henry Parkes who made it a democracy."

Other countries honour individuals with a public holiday. Which historical Australian figures do you believe are worthy of consideration for a national public holiday? What about Caroline Chisholm? Or Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop? Perhaps Saint Mary MacKillop? Even Andrew 'Banjo' Paterson? And Sir Donald Bradman?

What of Labour Day'? Is it still necessary to celebrate the achievements of Australia's labour movement with a public holiday? Do many Australians actually reflect or just take for granted on the hard earned rights gained by the labour movement for over a century on Labour Day? With the decline in union membership over the past several decades, perhaps Australians take for granted the rights delivered by the labour movement.

Christmas and Easter is a tussle between commemorating the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and receiving presents and chocolates from Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny respectively. Have we as a society lost sight of the true meaning of our religious days of celebration or have Santa and a Rabbit usurped the days?

With an increasingly number of Australians non-Christian, how relevant or connected are non-Christians toward these festive seasons? Should there be a renaming of Christmas and Easter and a broadening of the religious or spiritual celebration to include non-Christians, such as Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and even atheists?

And do many Australians know why Boxing Day exists? When Australians think of Boxing Day, they are likely to envisage the traditional Boxing Day Test Match cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, or in more recent times, post Christmas sales.

A British derived holiday, there appears a lack of clarity of its origins! One version is that it was apparently established as a custom for tradesmen to receive boxes of gifts in exchange for their services provided to the wealthy over the year. Should we consider renaming Boxing Day to something more meaningful and resonates with Australian society?

The Australian Capital Territory celebrates a Family and Community Day, in which as the name suggests is an opportunity for families and friends to spend time together. Aside from the iconic Anzac Day, the Family and Community Day is most worthy of a national public holiday, and could replace Boxing Day or even Labour Day.

Is it time to strike a constructive national conversation about our public holidays, to challenge the purpose and relevancy of our days of commemoration in today's Australia? I believe it's time. What do you think?