CELEBRATE WHAT’S GREAT: Orange City Council Australia Day community committee president Helen Corby reminds residents that Australia Day celebrations will be held on Saturday, January 26. Photo: OLIVIA SARGENT 0111osaust
THE day to celebrate everything that is great about is Australia is just two weeks away and organisers have again planned a huge celebration in Cook Park.
Australia Day celebrations will be held on Saturday, January 26, not the public holiday Monday [January 28], says Orange City Council Australia Day community committee president Helen Corby.
“There has been a bit of confusion about the celebrations this year,” she said.
The Australia Day Barbecue Breakfast and Fair will begin at 7.30am with a community breakfast.
The official ceremony will begin at 9.15am, with a citizenship ceremony at 10am and the presentation of awards from 10.30am, followed by dance displays, belly dancing and musical entertainment from 11.30am.
Special features of this year’s celebrations will be the wife-carrying race and apple rolling competition, along with the regular craft stalls, merchandise and food stalls, displays and children’s amusements.
The Australia Day Ambassador is former NSW deputy premier, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW CEO John Watkins, who will present the community awards.
Mrs Corby is pleased the awards received such strong support this year, with seven citizens, six young citizens, four community groups and three events nominated.
“It’s a huge improvement on last year with some really top-quality nominees,” she said.
“The judging was really hard because of the high standard.”
The beneficiary of fundraising at this year’s celebrations is the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, while the proceeds of the Australia Day raffles will go towards maintaining the Australian flag on Bathurst Road, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
l As last year’s celebrations were washed out, the 2012 Central Western Daily colouring-in competition winners will be able to redeem their prizes at this year’s event.
.... and the nominees are
Citizen of the year
Dr Peter Bilenkij
Margaret McFarlane
Shirley Evans
John Swain
Robert Alford
Deanne Phillips
Andrew McDougall
Young Citizen of the Year
Micheala Collins
David Pierce
Brittany Harman
Tristan Harrison
William Parish
Adam Cusack
Community Group of the Year
Quota International of Orange Inc
James Sheahan Catholic High School year 11 Community Service Group
Orange Premi-Babes Association
Orange and District Historical Society
Community Event of the Year
In The Pink Ball
Cruisin’ Along Car Rally
View Orange - Orange and District Historical Society