A full day of festivities is planned, starting at 8am with breakfasts at several villages and wrapping up with barbecue dinners and entertainment by the swimming pools in the evening.

Mayor Kevin Beatty said he would accompany Cabonne’s Australia Day ambassador, writer and music journalist Bruce Elder, to ceremonies at Nashdale, Cudal, Manildra and Yeoval where citizens of the year, young citizens of the year and community groups of the year will be announced.

Councillors will attend celebrations at Canowindra, Cargo, Cumnock, Eugowra, Molong and Mullion Creek.

The occasion will be Cr Beatty’s first Australia Day as mayor.

“I’m looking forward to getting around the villages – they come together and really celebrate,” he said.

While Orange City Council has announced its awards nominees ahead of Friday’s ceremony in Cook Park, Cabonne Council has chosen to keep its nominees a surprise.

“They are all really community-minded and they’ve done a lot,” Cr Beatty said.

“It’s a wide selection and they all come from different [fields].”