This year’s Australia Day event is shaping up to be a ripper of a celebration.
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UPDATE:
Noel Schmidt has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his services to the community.
UPDATE:
Belen Alt is one of three two be welcomed as Australian citizens in today’s ceremony at the Town Hall.
Ms Alt moved to Australia six years ago from the Philippines and said she is looking forward to officially becoming an Australian citizen today.
“it does mean a lot to me, since I’ve married an Australian, it gives me a sense of belonging,” she said.
“Australia is very accepting and people are friendly - they don’t care if you came from another country.”
UPDATE:
The official party entered.
UPDATE:
A crowd is building at the Town Hall preparing for celebrations.
UPDATE:
Mayor Steve Toms took to the stage to welcome all to the ceremony.
“We enjoyed breakfast this morning at Shannon Vale - great to include a rural community to share Australia Day,” he said.
“It’s been 229 years since the anniversary of the arrival of the first fleet at Port Jackson.”
EARLIER:
This year we will also be welcoming three new Australian citizens in a special ceremony at the Town Hall.
Committee chairperson Jan Lemon said the team had been busy for months preparing for the event.
“We spent Monday morning setting up but we have monthly meetings from August onwards,” she said.
“We work really well together on the committee and seem to pull it together each year,” secretary Lyn Schumacher said.
PROGRAM:
- Breakfast at Shannon Vale Station
- 12 noon: Official Party to enter stage area – piped in by the Glen Innes Pipe Band.
- MC, Glen Innes Severn Council Australia Day Committee Chairperson, Jan Lemon will address.
- Flag Raising – Australian Flag by Citizen of the Year 2016 Gordon Taylor, Torres Strait Islander Flag by Young Citizen of the Year 2016 Mark Symons, Aboriginal Flag by John Kirk, Australia Day Flag by Joanne Carter, NSW State Flag Mayor, Cr Steve Toms
- Welcome to Country, Mr John Kirk.
- Welcome Address by Glen Innes Severn Mayor, Cr Steve Toms.
- Australian Citizenship Affirmation – Mayor, Cr Steve Toms.
- Citizenship Ceremony.
- Australia Day Address by Ambassador Ms Joanne Carter.
- Presentation of Glen Innes Severn Council Australia Day Awards:
- Voluntary Community Organisation of the Year
- Emergency Service Volunteer of the Year
- Community Event of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Citizen of the Year.
- The Official Australia Day Cake will be cut by the Ambassador, Ms Joanne Carter, and the 2017 Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year at the conclusion of the official ceremony.
