There were a few things that were integral to Australia Day: a day off work (for most of us), the Australia Day Cricket Test, sunshine, a BBQ and Triple J's Hottest 100 Countdown. Even if you weren't a fan of the music played on the radio station, it was something you could chuck on and listen to as the day wore on.
Every year, without fail, there is a fierce debate about whether the number one song really should have been number one. But while that debate persists year on year, a bigger one about the actual date of Australia Day has been raging on for much longer.
As a result of the growing cries to #ChangeTheDate, Triple J has made the extraordinary step to move the Hottest 100 to the fourth weekend of January, (which coincidentally is the day after Australia Day next year), then have the Hottest 200 (the next hundred songs that missed out) the following day.
The radio station says: "The Hottest 100 has been held on a few different dates in the past so it's not the first time it's moved around. The first ever countdown was held on 5 March, 1989 and the countdown didn't regularly match up with 26 January until 1998.
"In recent years the Hottest 100 has become a symbol in the debate about Australia Day. The Hottest 100 wasn't created as an Australia Day celebration. It was created to celebrate your favourite songs of the past year.
"It should be an event that everyone can enjoy together - for both the musicians whose songs make it in and for everyone listening in Australia and around the world. This is really important to us."
The move has been welcomed by plenty of Aussie artists including Peking Duk, Illy, The Presets, Ball Park Music, WHAT SO NOT, and many more.
But the feeling amongst Aussies is one that is very polarised.
Rick Byrnes wrote: "Goodbye Triple J, you won't stop for a minute silence on Anzac day or Remembrance Day which was what made us what we are. But when you feel like it, you get political. Been a good 20 years...catch ya!"
Gabriel Gadzow said: "I think it's stupid to move it off a public holiday - but whatever. You'll just get less people listening."
Trent Lewis commented: "Don't use this privileged platform you have at the expense of us, the tax payers, to push your political leftist agenda."
But there were also a number of people who approved of the decision, including Coley Gaylard, who quipped to the haters: "I cannot believe the number of ignorant, narrow-minded, poorly educated bogans commenting on here. All the sad sacks saying they won't listen anymore- yeah sure."
Yasmine Waples also said: "It's on a weekend so the majority should still be able to enjoy it, have parties etc. Shocked by how many racist, selfish, brats are on here complaining about this. Put your whinging energy into something that matters."
There were plenty more people who commented a range of views and that's pretty representative of the country at the moment about changing the date of Australia Day. There have been a few councils who have opted to move the national day of celebration, but that was also met with a ton of criticism from locals and politicians.
It will be interesting to see what the ratings are for Triple J for their Hottest 100 next year and whether it still manages to bring in listeners for the annual countdown.
Featured Image Credit: Parks and Recreation/NBCTopics: Australia News, News, Community
