Here Are All The Good Things That Happened In 2021
It was another rough year, but there are some good moments that gave us hope and joy this year. Here are some of our faves!
1. Nostalgia is the present
Y2K fashion was a whole vibe, the butterfly clips, baggy jeans, boxy fits and boots came back with a bang and although it did make some of us feel like fossils it was nice to see such youthful recreations of the early 2000s trends.
Plus we got the much-awaited friends reunion, old friends making a visit in the Spiderman: No Way Home movie. Nostalgia is a go-to emotion to feel warm and fuzzy. And boy did it help to cope!
2. More Marginalised communities were represented and recognised in Australia
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Brooke Blurton was a trailblazer, being the first Noongar-Yamatji and bisexual woman to be the Bachelorette and Bachelor In Paradise. Yes, it's a cheesy reality show but millions watch it, and millions were exposed to more diversity in their daily media consumption - that's huge!
Australia post added Indigenous place names on envelopes in honour of NAIDOC week and Perth Airport recognised Traditional Custodians across Australia by displaying them alongside destination names - as they should.
Hopefully, we keep seeing more diversity in the future.
3. Law of consent was passed
New South Wales adopted an Affirmative Consent Model which basically means that sexual consent has to be actively sought and communicated.
4. Increase in the minimum wage
Also, the Fair Work Commission announced that Australia’s national minimum wage would be boosted by 2.5%, a ray of hope to the families that had dire financial struggles during the pandemic.
5. Leaders are feeling pressured to address the issue around climate change.
COP26 was a start to a global commitment to protecting the planet from climate change. Scomo was planning to hop skip and escape from the agreement but the pressure from the public gave him no choice but to comply. So, the Australian government committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
6. The Olympics brought us together.
From the joyous celebrations of Aussie coaches losing it in the stands, and athletes swearing during an interview and Simon Biles putting mental health as a topic front and centre. The Olympics albeit controversial did give us some really wholesome and endearing life lessons. I also think it's pretty cool that the entire world had something in common for that short period even when we were so separated.
7. Aussies shined bright in the music and film industry!
Josephine Langford, Angourie Rice, Jacod Elordi and our golden child Kid Laroi really captured peoples attention around the world. Always heart-warming to see local talent being celebrated by the world.
Keep your spirits high for 2022 folks, it's only up from here!