Is it too much to ask that I see an Australia Day before I die on which we don't trot out an argument about becoming a republic, changing the flag or scrapping the anthem? 
Alas, I fear it may be.
Every year someone feels the need to use our national day to broadcast his or her bugbear to the world. In the case of an Australian republic, a different public figure brings it to the fore each year, usually someone who has run out of other issues to talk about.
Last year it was Bill Shorten, which most probably saw people leave the republican movement as fast as they've abandoned unions. This year we've been treated to the passionate fellow in the red bandanna, Peter FitzSimons.
Australia Day is a time to relax and celebrate all that is good about our great nation. Those who endeavour to complain about or change facets of our country on our national day are usually met with eyerolls and moans.
As much as champions of the republican cause talk it up, few people care enough to want to change a tried-and-tested system.
What material benefit will we -derive from becoming a republic? No one can show a justification of the enormous amount time and money it would take beyond touchy-feely ideas of maturity.
A 2014 ReachTEL poll found Australia had hit its lowest support for a republic in 20 years at just 39.4 per cent. More than 40 per cent were -opposed to change and 19 per cent - nearly one-fifth of the nation - had no opinion on the matter.
Unsurprisingly, rebel Baby Boomers are the only group interested in an Australian head of state. Even so, support for a republic in the 35-50 and 51-65 age groups fails to hit 50 per cent.
Older Australians are predictably those least in support of change but, most crucially, my generation of young Australians follow closely -behind their grandparents. An appetite for change isn't present among our -nation's youth - the people who will shape future policy. This poses a major threat to the dream of Leftists who would ordinary look to young people for support on progressive issues.
The celebrity factor of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has revitalised the monarchy among the young.
I've never seen an event bring so many people to the roadside to wave their Australian flags than a few royals rolling past in a car with tinted windows.
It inspires a pride in people that does not exist for politicians and certainly wouldn't exist for an Australian-born head of state.Why change something that functions perfectly and also brings Australians a great deal of pleasure?