Communities across the Mid Coast will come together this Saturday as people attend ceremonies and events to mark Australia Day.
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Civic ceremonies have been planned for Taree, Forster and Gloucester.
Taree, Forster and Gloucester
Taree’s ceremony will be held at Club Taree and includes a free barbecue breakfast from 7.30am, followed by a 9am ceremony.
In Forster, a morning tea will be held at 11am before the ceremony at 11.30am at Club Forster.
In Gloucester, an 8am barbecue breakfast will take place before the 9am ceremony in Billabong Park.
All ceremonies include entertainment (Manning Valley Concert Band, PCYC Acrobatics, Great Lakes Band or Gloucester High School), free flags and tattoo giveaways, free morning teas, colouring in competition entries on display, and giveaway family passes to Manning or the Great Lakes Aquatic and Leisure Centres, or free entry to the Gloucester pool from 2pm to 7pm.
Wingham
Wingham Rotary Club will provide a barbecue breakfast from 7.30am in Wingham’s Central Park, before the the official ceremony starts at 8am.
Eric Richardson OAM will emcee, Darrell McKeogh will offer prayers for peace and the nation and Wingham High School captains Stephen Smith and Rawai Poini will also speak.
Wingham’s Citizen of the Year, Sports Person of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year, and Pride in Workmanship will be presented and Caitlyn Cameron (who played Cosette in Taree Arts Council’s Les Misérables last year) will lead the community in the singing of the national anthem.
A convoy of classic cars, bikes and trucks will start from the Central Park Australia Day festivities and travel to Old Bar.
Old Bar
Organised by the Lions Club of Old Bar, activities start at 7am at Old Bar Park with a free breakfast including sausage sizzle, damper and other fine Aussie food cooked by Lions Club members. The children can burn off some energy with some typical Aussie games and enjoy the music provided by local musicians.
The Old Bar Citizen of the Year along with the Youth of the Year will be presented by federal MP, Dr David Gillespie, who will be giving the Australia Day address.
Harrington
The Harrington Crowdy Head Chamber of Commerce and the Harrington Lions Club have organised Australia Day activities, which start at 8am at the Memorial Hall, Harrington.
A barbecue breakfast, billy tea and damper will be on sale and highlights of the ceremony include Citizen of the Year awards. Activities will conclude at about 10am.
Hallidays Point
Organised by the Hallidays Point Lions Club, an Australia Day breakfast will be held at Black Head Beach between 7am and 9am.
A free sausage sizzle will run until all sausages are consumed and there will also be damper, billy tea or coffee.
Highlights of the morning include a flag raising ceremony, an address by the Australia Day ambassador, good food, good music, good fellowship and the presentation of the Local Citizen of the Year award. John Finnie is the emcee.
Coomba Park
The Australia Day Coomba Fest will run from 9am to 5pm Saturday at the Coomba Foreshore, Coomba.
The fun kicks off with a breakfast of juice, bacon and egg rolls and sausage sandwiches. Fun races and activities including picnic races, raft race, waterslide, face painting, chocolate wheel ticket sales, guessing comp, lucky dips and market stalls will keep the whole family entertained.
The Australia Day ceremony will start at 10am, with presentations at 11am.
Food and beverages available all day, including espresso coffee, chicken kebabs, salads, burgers, sweets, soft drinks and more.
Tea Gardens
Australia Day breakfast celebrations will start from 8am and run until about noon at Moira Parade Park, with sausage sandwiches, bacon and egg rolls, damper, lamingtons, tea, coffee and cold drinks available.
The program includes face painting and games for children (including egg and spoon races), music and entertainment, presentation of the Citizen of the Year and a fly past from the RAAF Williamtown.
Convoy of classic cars
A convoy of classic cars and hotrods, trucks and motorbikes will join Wingham locals for the Australia Day celebrations at Central Park on Saturday, January 26.
Cars taking part in the convoy will be adorned with the Australian Flag, with a $100 prize going to the driver of the best dressed vehicle.
The convoy will meet at Wingham for the Rotary breakfast which starts at 7.30am and depart for Old Bar after the Wingham Australia Day ceremony and award presentations are concluded.
The final destination will be Old Bar Tavern where a show and shine will take place, as well as a barbecue at 11.30am and fun family events to raise funds for the Old Bar Rural Fire Service.
There are also activities throughout the day in Lansdowne, Krambach, Bulahdelah, Forster, Tuncurry, Gloucester and North Arm Cove.