For the first time there won't be a council-organised Australian Day ceremony in Taree next year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This has been confirmed by MidCoast Council.
"Our official Australia Day ceremony will be held as part of the Saltwater Freshwater Festival at Forster,'' a council spokesperson explained.
"We will continue to support Australia Day celebrations and events organised by local community groups in other areas across the Mid Coast - this would include Taree if a community group approaches us for support.''
For more than 30 years council - either the former Greater Taree or the current MidCoast - has run the Australian Day celebrations in Taree.
Council also organised the Australia Day awards, including citizen of the year, young citizen of the year and event of the year. Nominations were sought from the public. Since 2011 the sport award has been run in conjunction with the Manning River Times's long running sportstar of the year.
However, unless a community group becomes involved, there won't be an Australia Day function in Taree in 2020.
"Any events outside the civic ceremony we are hosting in Forster are encouraged and supported, but our involvement would not extend to organising or being part of their event,'' the spokesperson confirmed.
"We will promote any Australia Day activities through our normal processes/channels.''
Council representatives will be speaking to community groups regarding next year's Australia Day program.
"We are talking with the groups we have worked with and supported over previous years to try and ensure there are celebrations held across the region,'' the spokesperson indicated.
Funding could be available for community groups to host activities. Should a group take on the job of organising an event in Taree it would be up to them to decide if there's an award component.
"For the civic ceremony (at Forster), there are six award categories with nominations drawn from across the MidCoast,'' the spokesperson explained.
Australia Day events at Wingham, Old Bar, Black Head, Harrington and Lansdowne are run by community groups.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
The Manning River Times is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter. Sign up HERE