Australia Day will be celebrated across various towns in the region on Thursday, with the highlight the acknowledgement of Mitchell Shire’s outstanding citizens at a ceremony in Seymour.
Chittick Park will host the annual Mitchell Shire Community Awards and Citizenship Ceremony, recognising 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 also be a highlight. 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.
Broadford festival
The Broadford Australia Day Festival, at the Island park, will include a range of events and activities such as live music, roving magicians, and cartooning workshops, as well as free face painting, a miniature pet farm, pony rides and demonstrations by Snake Safe Victoria.
The festival will begin at 7am with a Lions barbecue breakfast, followed by entertainment and activities from 9am to 3pm.
Broadford Cars and Coffee will also have about 50 classic cars on display, while several community groups and sporting clubs will be on hand with stalls.
Broadford and District Historical Society has collated a display celebrating 60 years of Broadford Secondary College, featuring historical memorabilia and archive photos.
All historical society buildings will be open from 10am to 2pm and provide an opportunity for visitors to explore Broadford’s past.
Wandong event
In Wandong, a free hot breakfast and flag-raising ceremony will be held from 8am at 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.
Tallarook
Our Friends Farm in Tallarook will host an Australia Day event from noon until 10pm, featuring a giant waterslide for a fun family day, plus a DJ playing Australian music.
People are encouraged to bring their swimmers, floaties and water pistols.
The event is free but bookings are required at events.humanitix.com/straya-day-pool-party-at-our-friends-farm.
People can visit the Mitchell Shire website at www.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au for updates on upcoming events across the shire.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will host an Australia Day awards ceremony and Australian citizenship ceremony at Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday.
For more information, visit www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/See-Do/Events/Australia-Day.
