TOWNS across the Mitchell Shire are preparing their Australia Day celebrations, with events being organised for community members to socialise and appreciate some of the shire’s outstanding citizens.
Seymour’s Chittick Park will play host to the annual Mitchell Shire Community Awards and Citizenship Ceremony on Australia Day, giving awards across five categories including citizen of the year, young citizen of the year, access and inclusion champion, community group of the year, and community event of the year.
A citizenship ceremony will be conducted after the awards for people who have chosen to officially become Australians.
The day will begin at 8am with a barbecue breakfast and include a flag raising ceremony, live music by Seymour band Madoja, and the Seymour Gift foot race. The awards ceremony will begin at 10am.
Mitchell Shire Mayor Fiona Stevens said the event was a chance to appreciate the work of community members who might otherwise go unrecognised.
“Australia Day is many things to many people and importantly is a chance for us to pause and come together,” she said.
“It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge some of our unsung heroes, both individuals and groups, and to say thank you for everything they do.
“Our community wouldn’t be the same without dedicated people, mostly volunteers, who work tirelessly amongst us.”
Wandong event
In Wandong, a free hot breakfast and flag raising ceremony will be held from 8am at the Wandong Heathcote Junction Sports and Community Centre at LB Davern Reserve.
An awards ceremony will start at 9am, providing an opportunity to honour some of the community’s outstanding citizens.
For more information on Wandong’s Australia Day breakfast, people can call Allen Hall on 0413 832 411.
People can visit the Mitchell Shire website at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au for updates on upcoming events across the shire.
