Australia Day will be celebrated across the Lithgow region on Sunday, January 26 with free activities and entertainment for everyone and with the Ambassador's Address to be given by award winning author Susanne Gervay.
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"Australia Day will be on important opportunity to come together as a community to acknowledge our resilience and the generosity of spirit that has shone through this past year, particularly during these recent difficult months," Lithgow City Council Mayor Ray Thompson said.
"It will be timely to hear from an author whose work explores themes of togetherness, resilience, and the importance of an inclusive community spirit."
Lithgow
Lithgow's official ceremony will be held at Queen Elizabeth Park from 10am to 11am. It includes a Citizenship Ceremony, the NSW Local Citizenship Awards and Reg Cowden Sports Awards, as well as the Ambassador's address.
Entertainment will be provided by the Lithgow City Band and Lithgow Highland Pipe Band.
The Lions Club will serve delicious traditional homemade damper and tea prior to the event and a sausage sizzle afterwards, both free of charge.
There will also be free entry to the JM Robson Aquatic Centre from 8am until 4pm.
Portland
Australia Day celebrations at Portland will run from 10am to 3pm as Wolgan Street comes alive with entertainment and activities for the whole family including live music and performances by Lithgow City Band, Lithgow Highland Pipe Band, Ruth Lockley and the Lithgow Line Dancers.
Celebrate the Portland community with the official ceremony and awards at 12pm, with the singing of the National Anthem to be performed by Glenda Phipps accompanied by the Lithgow City Band and Flag Raising by the Portland Scout Group.
This will be followed by an address from the Ambassador, Susanne Gervay OAM.
Presentation of the Senior and Junior Citizens of the Year and other local awards, will then be a major part of the Official Ceremony.
Preparations to date have confirmed that there will be the usual variety of entertainment, stalls, display of Vintage Vehicles.
Food and light refreshments will be available at the CWA Rooms and the Girl Guides will be manning the barbecue.
There will be activities for the children including jumping castles, courtesy of Portland RSL Club, who will also giveaway balloons and flags.
Following the Official Ceremony there will be further entertainment up until 3pm including the presentation of Colouring-In Awards at 2.15pm.
The Colouring-In competition has received good response, and organisers wish to thank to the staff and students at St. Joseph's and Portland Central Schools for their support and contribution, together with McDonalds Lithgow for their ongoing sponsorship of this traditional part of Australia Day Celebrations in Portland.
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The entries are currently on display in the windows of the Gindaay Youth Centre.
Other activities on the day in Portland will include the Portland Pool being open from 12pm until 6pm.
Live entertainment has also been arranged at Coronation Hotel from 12pm, with the popular local band "The Blowflys Trio" set to perform.
The widely acclaimed group 'The Shapelles' will be performing at the Portland RSL Club.
Wallerawang
Celebrate Australia Day at Wallerawang from 10.30am and into the evening at the Wallerawang Community & Sports Club with a festival of fun for all the family including music, mural painting, a giant slide, children's activities, wood chopping, barbecue, performances and more.
The official ceremony commences at 1.30pm with an address by the Australia Day Ambassador.
Rydal
Grab your homemade billy carts and head to Rydal between 3pm and 6pm for traditional Australian activities and games for the whole family such as billy cart races, tug-a-war, gumboot tossing and yabby races.
The ceremony to celebrate the Rydal community starts at 5pm.
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