IN JUST three days, 50 Greater Shepparton residents and 13 Campaspe Shire residents will be accepting their Australian Citizenship and celebrating alongside this year’s award recipients on Australia Day, as Shepparton celebrates 70 years of citizenship ceremonies and Australia Day Award presentations.
Coincidentally, in its 70th year, 70 nominations were sent through for Australia Day Awards in Greater Shepparton.
Celebrations will ring out across the region on Saturday, January 26, with events held in Shepparton, Arcadia, Dookie, Mooroopna, Murchison, Tatura and Toolamba. In Campaspe, events will be held in Echuca, Girgarre, Gunbower, Koyuga, Kyabram, Kyvalley, Lockington, Milloo, Rochester, Rushworth, Stanhope, Tongala, Toolleen and Wyuna.
Celebrations feature flag raising ceremonies, guest speakers, Australia Day Ambassadors, entertainment and the presentation of the 2019 Australia Day Awards.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Kim O’Keeffe encourages all residents to celebrate what it means to be Australian.
“Australia Day is a fantastic opportunity for all citizens, regardless of their background to come together to celebrate our country and what it means to be an Australian,” Cr O’Keeffe said.
“I encourage all residents to take pride in their country on January 26 and reflect on who we are as a nation.
“Australia Day is a day for people from every walk of life to celebrate the things we love about our country.”
Event in Greater Shepparton:
Shepparton
Where: Queens Gardens
When: 8:45am
There will be a free barbeque and multicultural brunch available along with musical entertainment and children’s activities.
Ambassador: Dr Peter Ellyard
Arcadia
Where: Arcadia Recreation Reserve and Community Centre
When: 8am
A free breakfast will be held with attendees.
Ambassador: Mr Deepak Vinayak OAM JP
Dookie
Where: CWA Gardens Dookie
When: 8am
The Dookie Lions Club will provide a free cooked breakfast where the Australia Day Awards will be presented. There will be Australian themed music, gifts for children and time for people to meet, mingle and enjoy the day.
Ambassador: Mr Stan Alves OAM
Mooroopna
Where: Ferrari Park
When: 10:30am
There will be a flag raising ceremony to open the Mooroopna Australia Day Award presentations which will then be followed by a sausage sizzle and entertainment from local musicians and a bush poet.
Ambassador: Ms Diane James AM
Murchison
Where: Murchison Swimming Pool
When: 8am
Attendees will be able to enjoy a barbeque breakfast followed by the presentation of Australia Day awards presented by special guest, Sara Niglia.
Special Guest: Sara Niglia
Tatura
Where: Tatura Italian Social Club.
When: 8:30am Guests will be able to enjoy a free breakfast held in the morning before the presentation of the Australia Day Awards commences, which will then be followed by morning tea will to conclude the ceremony.
Special Guest: Peter Moar
Toolamba
Where: Toolamaba Recreation Reserve
When: 11am
Australia Day awards will be presented followed by a free barbeque at the end of the proceedings.
Ambassador: Mr Deepak Vinayak OAM JP
Events in Campaspe Shire:
Echuca
Where: Aquatic Reserve
When: 7am
There will be an early bird breakfast followed by flag raising ceremony, citizenship ceremony, presentation of awards and a barbeque breakfast.
Ambassador: Mr Ian Coutts
Girgarre
Where: Girgarre Reserve and Girgarre Memorial Hall
When: 8:30am
Flag raising ceremony, presentation of awards, music and a barbeque breakfast.
Ambassador: Dr Yvonne Ho AM
Gunbower
Where: Felix L’Huillier Park, Gunbower Recreation Reserve and Gunbower Memorial Hall
When: 7:30am
There will be a community breakfast before the flag raising ceremony and morning tea.
Koyuga
Where: Kouuga Hall
When: 5pm
There will be a flag raising ceremony, sausage sizzle, annual yabby races, indoor and outdoor games followed by supper.
Kyabram
Where: Kyabram Memorial Gardens
When: 8am
There will be a flag raising ceremony, barbeque breakfast and presentation of awards.
Ambassador: Mr Robin Daubeny
Kyvalley
Where: Kyvalley Community Park and Pool
When: 12 noon
There will be a community ceremony, barbeque lunch, entertainment and the pool will be open to the public.
Lockington
Where: Lions/Apex Park and Lockington Channel
When: 8:30am
There will be breakfast, flag raising ceremony, a guest speaker and kids fishing competition at the channel.
Milloo
Where: Milloo Hall
When: 7pm
There will be dinner followed by a guest speaker.
Rochester
Where: Lions Park
When: 7:30am
There will be a barbeque breakfast, flag raising ceremony and presentation of awards.
Ambassador: Ms Ann Peacock
Rushworth
Where: Village Green
When: 5:30pm
With the theme ‘community volunteers’ there will be a sausage sizzle and presentation of awards.
Ambassador: Dr Yvonne Ho AM
Stanhope
Where: McEwen Place and Community Hall
When: 9:30am
There will be a flag raising ceremony, entertainment, presentation of awards and morning tea.
Ambassador: Mr Robin Daubeny
Tongala
Where: Tongala Public Hall
When: 11am
There will be a flag raising ceremony, presentation of awards, sing-a-long and barbeque lunch.
Ambassador: Mr Ian Coutts
Toolleen
Where: Toolleen Community Centre
When: 11am
There will be a luncheon and entertainment by the Rushworth Band.
Ambassador: Ms Ann Peacock
Wyuna
Where: Wyuna Memorial Hall
When: 6pm
There will be a community barbeque, flag raising ceremony and a guest speaker.
