AUSTRALIA’S newest citizens will be officially welcomed in Pakenham during the annual Australia Day celebrations.
There will be five events across Cardinia Shire including Pakenham, Kooweerup, Lang Lang, Cockatoo and Bunyip on Sunday 26 January.
Cardinia Shire Council is hosting its main Australia Day event at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Lakeside Drive, Pakenham from 11am to 2pm.
A citizenship ceremony at this event will be followed by the Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards.
The awards honour residents, organisations and events who contribute to and strengthen the local community.
Awards for Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Organisation of the Year, Community Event of the Year and the Community Service Award will be given on the day.
Last year’s recipients were Jeni Mathieson from 4Cs, Charles Huyskens, Matthew Conway, Justin Matthys and the Emerald Community House (ECH) shared the Community Organisation of the Year with Living Learning Pakenham.
Mayor Graeme Moore will give the official Australia Day address at the Pakenham event.
“What better day than Australia Day to welcome Cardinia Shire’s new Australian citizens as official members of the Australian community, and to celebrate the outstanding achievements of people and organisations who give so much to our shire,” he said.
“Cardinia Shire residents have great community spirit, and I look forward to seeing it on show at these events on 26 January.”
**BREAK OUT BOX*
Australia Day events in Cardinia Shire and Casey:
Pakenham: Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Drive 11am-2pm.
– Mayor’s Australia Day address.
– Citizenship ceremony.
– Presentation of Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards.
– Free community barbecue.
– Activities including face-painting, animal farm, children’s amusements and entertainment, roving clown, MYBus, and native plant giveaway.
– Australia Day ambassador Dr Peter Ellyard.
Cockatoo: Alma Treloar Reserve, 73-75 Pakenham Rd, 8.30am-10.30am.
– Free sausages, pancakes and fruit platters.
– Flag-raising ceremony.
– Local cricket (weather permitting).
Kooweerup: Kooweerup Community Centre, Rossiter Rd, 8.15am-10.30am.
– Free bacon and egg rolls for breakfast.
– Kooweerup Australia Day Awards.
– Flag-raising ceremony.
– Local poet performance.
– Entertainment from Kooweerup Secondary College band.
– Australia Day ambassador Peter ‘Crackers’ Keenan.
Lang Lang: Lang Lang Memorial Hall, 135 McDonalds Track, 8.15am-10.30am.
– Free community barbecue.
– Local entertainment and performances.
– Flag-raising ceremony.
– Australia Day ambassador Peter Sullivan.
Bunyip: Bunyip Hall, Main Street, 9am-10am
– Free morning tea.
– Flag-raising ceremony.
– Songs from ‘The Bunyip singers’.
– Australia Day ambassador Paul Sheahan.
– Berwick: Pioneers Park, 10am-3pm.
– Children’s activities and musical performances.
– Food stalls.
– Flag-raising ceremony.
