By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The many and varied people that make up Cardinia Shire’s multicultural society come together on Australia Day for a day of celebration and national pride.
Events took place across the shire from Cockatoo to Kooweerup with all members of the community coming together in shared sense of what makes Australia great.
Early-birds rose for Australia Day events and breakfast in Cockatoo and Kooweerup with the celebrations kicking off at the stockman’s hour of 8.30am.
Bunyip kicked of a lovely presentation with songs from the Bunyip Singers and special guest speakers at the much more reasonable time of 10am.
Australia Day ambassadors chosen by the Australia Day council lent words of encouragement and praise to the local communities they visited.
Paul Wheelton OAM spoke at the Bunyip Hall and thanked the town for their generous hospitality in inviting him to do so.
Former Paralympian swimming champion Jessica Salamati (Smith) spoke of the values of hard work and dedication that are part of the Australian Spirit at the Kooweerup Community Centre.
However, the largest crowds came down to the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham for the 2017 Cardinia Shire Australia Day awards presentation and citizenship ceremony.
Cardinia Shire mayor Brett Owen delivered a passionate and tearful speech about his family’s history in coming to Australia and finding a life that has bought him great pride and happiness.
Longest serving chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Australia Day Ambassador to Pakenham George Lekakis AO addressed the crowd before the awards were announced.
Describing the Australian nation as a “big, loud, and robust family”, Mr Lekakis lauded the Australian nature of coming together to help one another in times of tragedy being what makes Australia the best place to live in the world.
Almost 100 people recited the citizen pledge at the Cardinia Cultural Centre completing their journeys and officially being recognised as new Australian citizens.
There were 26 nominations in the Shire’s Australia Day awards across the categories of Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, and Community Event of the Year.
While all the nominations were worthy contenders, the top prizes went to Wayne Collins of ECHO for Citizen of the Year, Michael Allery for Senior Citizen of the Year, Emily Bloxidge for Young Citizen of the Year and The Cardinia Relay for Life for Community Event of Year.
More details of the Australia Day events and of our impressive Australia Day award winners will be available in next week’s Pakenham Gazette.
