Marking Australia Day across the region
Horsham Rural City
Horsham: 7am to 9am, free barbecue breakfast at Sawyer Park. Ambassador Paul Margetts, former Victoria Police Superintendent. Presentation of Australia Day awards, citizenship ceremony, flag-raising, entertainment. Brimpaen: 8am, breakfast and flag-raising at Brimpaen Hall. Dadswells Bridge: 11.30am, flag-raising followed by light lunch at Dadswells Bridge Hall. Natimuk: 11am at the NC2 building, followed by lunch.
Ararat Rural City
Ararat: 9am to noon, free barbecue breakfast, Australia Day awards, citizenship ceremony, entertainment at Alexandra Oval Community Centre. Ambassador, Martha Haylett, Member for Ripon.
From noon, picnic in the park including children’s activities, entertainment and food at Alexandra Gardens. Across the shire: Noon to 3pm, pool parties at Ararat, Lake Bolac and Willaura pools including free barbecue lunch and activities.
Hindmarsh shire
Hindmarsh Shire Council will present its Australia Day awards at events throughout the day. Rainbow: From 7.30am, breakfast followed by meet-and-greet and ceremony at Rainbow Oasis. Jeparit: From 9am, breakfast, meet-and-greet and ceremony at Menzies Square. Dimboola: From 10.30am, morning tea, meetand-greet and ceremony at Dimboola Library Gardens. Nhill: From noon, lunch, meet-and-greet and ceremony at Goldsworthy Park.
Horsham Scout Group member Michael Timms has won Horsham Rural City Council’s 2023 youth citizen of the year award. Mr Timms said he was no more ‘special’ than other youth citizen of the year nominees, however he was happy to have won the award. Mr Timms has been an active member of Scouts for 12 years and has been a leader of young Scout groups since becoming a leading ‘Rover’
Northern Grampians shire
Stawell: From 5pm, barbecue and coffee van at Cato Park. Ambassador Neil Soullier OAM. Presentation of Australia Day awards, citizenship ceremony, entertainment. St Arnaud: From 8am, breakfast at Market Square. Ambassador Professor Paul Komesaroff OA. Presentation of Australia Day awards, citizenship ceremony. Morning tea to follow. Navarre: From 8.30am, breakfast at Navarre Hall. Marnoo: From noon, lunch at Marnoo Hub.
West Wimmera shire
West Wimmera Shire Council will present its
Australia Day awards at the winners’ relative home town event. Apsley: From 11am, brunch and a game of cricket at Lions Park Playground. Guest speaker, Wayne Caldow. Dergholm: 11am to 1pm, event at Dergolm Solider’s Memorial Hall. Guest speaker, Ken Frost. Edenhope: From 8am, breakfast and flag-raising at Henley Park, Lake Street. Guest speaker, Wayne Caldow. Goroke: From 8am at Goroke Memorial Hall. Guest speaker, writer Gerald Murnane. Harrow: From 11am, lunch at Johnny Mullagh Reserve. Guest speaker, artist Ron Penrose.
Kaniva: From 8am, breakfast and flag-raising at Kaniva Swimming Pool. Guest speaker Damien Tann, pastor for Kaniva and Serviceton Shared Ministry.
Yarriambiack shire
Beulah: From 8am at Beulah Post Office, including flag pole stroll and finishing at Camp Kitchen, Beulah Recreation Reserve, for a barbecue breakfast, guest speaker and introduction of new residents. Hopetoun: From 8am, breakfast, flag-raising ceremony and guest speaker; presentation of individual and community awards at Memorial Courtyard. Murtoa: From 8am, barbecue breakfast and presentation of awards at Murtoa Neighbourhood House. Minyip: From 8am, breakfast, guest speaker. Presentations of the Pat Walsh Memorial Young Achiever, Minyip and District Citizen of the year and Minyip Citizen of the Year award at the Town Square. Rupanyup: From 8am, barbecue breakfast, guest speaker Kate Burke of Think Agri. Presentation of Young Achiever and Citizen of the Year awards at Memorial Park. Speed: From 8am, breakfast, flag-raising, guest speaker at Speed Recreation Centre. Wallup: From 8am, breakfast and guest speaker at Wallup Hall. Warracknabeal: From 8am, breakfast, scout flag parade, guest speaker Nicole Battley, entertainment. Presentation of Citizen of the Year, Sportsperson of the Year and Young Achiever of the Year; recognition of new citizens at Warracknabeal Racecourse. Woomelang: From 8.30am, breakfast and guest speaker at Woomelang Recreation Reserve.