The views among first Australians about today are not uniform, but the granddaughter of the great Doug Nichols presents a compelling case which, among other things, puts to rest the idea that changing the date is a recent phenomenon.

My grandfather protested against Australia Day in 1938. We'll never have a reason to rejoice on that day.

By Ngarra Murray

Eighty years ago on Friday, my grandfather donned a black suit as a sign of mourning and in the hot summer heat, marched in silence through the streets of Sydney.

The 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in Australia had for others been a time to celebrate — there was a parade and a re-enactment of the landing, with Aboriginal men brought in from a remote area to assist in the re-enactment after Sydney residents refused to participate.

My grandfather, Sir Douglas Nicholls, along with our Uncle William Cooper and about 100 other fellow Indigenous protesters, had to wait patiently for the festivities to pass before they were allowed to march.

One of the first civil rights protests by Indigenous people against their callous and discriminatory treatment in Australia, the gathering was not allowed to enter via the front door when they arrived at the Australian Hall in Elizabeth Street — the protesters were instead told to enter through the back.

On this momentous day in 1938, my grandfather was only 32. He had just retired from a successful career with Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League.

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