Celebrate Australia Day in Loddon Shire

Published on 10 January 2017

Australia Day preparations are in full swing across Loddon Shire, with volunteers busily working to ensure community celebrations across the municipality are fun, family focused events.

Loddon Shire Australia Day Committee Secretary Shannon Brown said Australia Day Committee volunteers were working tirelessly to arrange the final details of a variety of activities from breakfasts, morning teas, barbecue lunches and teas, through to swimming carnivals, merry-go-rounds and live music at some locations.

“As part of the annual event’s planned festivities, prizes will be awarded for a literature, colouring and photography competition organised in partnership with primary and secondary schools across the municipality,” Mrs Brown said.

“It’s wonderful to see creativity is alive and well in Loddon Shire, with a wonderful variety of entries being produced in response to the themes which centred around A Great Australian in the literary section and Local Flora and Fauna in the photography and colouring competition sections.

“This year we’ve also had a good response to the open photography competition and it’s pleasing to see people of all ages sharing their passion.”

“In fact over the last couple of months some 600 creative Australia Day competition entries have flowed into the office.”

Mrs Brown said a selection of entries received were currently on display at the Inglewood and Pyramid Hill IGA supermarkets, Boort Resource and Information Centre, Tarnagulla Community Centre and the window of the old milkbar in Wedderburn’s High Street.

“Residents enjoying Australia Day at the Bridgewater, Serpentine and Newbridge community celebrations will also be able to view a variety of entries displayed there on the day.

“Winning and highly commended entries will feature at The Coach House Gallery in Wedderburn throughout February.”

Mrs Brown said a highlight of Australia Day celebrations across the Shire each year was the announcement and presentation of awards which acknowledged the outstanding contribution made by community members across a range of categories.

These include Loddon Shire citizen of the year, young citizen of the year, community group of the year, community project of the year, Boort community services award, Inglewood community services award, Tarnagulla community services award, Terrick community services award and Wedderburn community services award.

“An Australia Day ambassador is also set to speak at each event, which will feature a special flag raising ceremony and national anthem rendition,” she said.

“While the guest speakers come from a variety of backgrounds, in some instances their experiences should prove particularly relevant to the community they’re visiting.”

Mrs Brown said a good example of this was having businessman Huss Mustafa OAM (Victoria) scheduled to speak at Pyramid Hill.

“Huss has a Turkish Cypriot heritage with very humble beginnings, having migrated to Australia with his family at the age of 10.

“He is currently a senior executive at Commonwealth Bank of Australia and has a passion for supporting and celebrating multiculturalism in Australia that recognizes the contribution and benefits of cultural diversity.

“Hopefully the story Huss shares on Australia Day will provide encouragement and inspiration to many within Pyramid Hill’s growing Filipino community.”

Join in celebrating all that makes us proud to be Australian at Arnold Hall at 6.30pm, Nolan Park in Boort at 9.15am, Sloan Park in Bridgewater at 8am, the Eddington Community Centre at 8am, Inglewood Swimming Pool at 11am, Newbridge Hall at 11.30am, Pyramid Hill Hall at 6pm, Rudkin’s Reserve at Serpentine at 8.30am and Jacka Park in Wedderburn at 5pm.