A community-led campaign calling for an annual ‘May8 Day’ on the 8 May is gaining momentum nationally, with a broad mix of Australians backing the push for a new cultural event championing mateship and social cohesion.
Instead of creating a new public holiday, or shifting the divisive 26 January Australia Day public holiday, May8 Day is positioned as a social occasion for people in Australia to come together and celebrate the things they love about their friends, culture and the country.
The grassroots initiative is being driven by Melbourne-based advertising agency Good One Creative, with its co-founder Charlie Howcroft hitting the road on his moped scooter and interviewing Australians from all walks of life to understand what mateship means to them.
“There is so much happening in the world causing social friction and division right now. May8 Day is a platform to drive social connection, to tell our mates we love them, spotlight the wonderful ways people show mateship daily, as well as celebrate the Australian way of life we are lucky to have,” said Howcroft.
“Many Australians have found themselves in a position where they feel wrong about being patriotic about their country, culture and beliefs. We want to change this through listening, storytelling and encouraging Australians to come together on the 8th of May every year in an inclusive and respectful way.
“The feedback we have received to date has been absolutely fantastic, because it is a day that can work for everyone. It is not a new public holiday businesses need to manage, it is not a celebration linked to a historic event, it is just a day to celebrate mateship, plain and simple.
“If you are in Australia, May8 Day is your day.”
The May8 Day stories collected by Howcroft form a rolling content series across the @mateshipday Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. They capture candid and funny responses to the deceptively simple question: what does mateship mean to you?
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Notable individuals that have shared honest perspectives about what mateship means to them include bisexual former footballer Mitch Brown, Indigenous rights advocate and model Nyima
Tucker, radio personality Will McMahon (Will & Woody) and City of Maribyrnong Mayor, Mohamed Semra.
On Friday 8 May, the inaugural May8 Day celebration will be held at the City of Melbourne Bowls Club in Flagstaff Gardens between 6pm-10pm.
The event will include a sausage sizzle featuring kanga bangas and damper, with attendees encouraged to bring a sauce or condiment of their choice that represents their mateship group or culture. Lawn bowls, live music and a poem and letter writing sessions celebrating all things mateship are also planned
