The Combined Services Clubs of Taree are again coordinating the Australia Day functions in Taree. This will start with breakfast at the RiverStage in Queen Elizabeth Park and include the presentation of Australia Day awards along with a citizenship ceremony.

A concert will be held that evening, starting around 5pm and featuring local performers, also at the RiverStage.

The organisers hope this will conclude with a fireworks display at 9pm. However, this will cost $12,000. While there is funding available from the Australia Day Council to finance activities on Wednesday, January 26, this won't cover fireworks.

Organisers had asked businesses to donate $500 towards the cost of the fireworks but at the time of writing this figure was still $6500 short. Deadline is Monday, December 20.

Donations have been received from Azure Pools, Men at Work Taree, Nundoobah Retreat, NAB, Valley Industries, Dundaloo Foundation, Active Co IT, Essential Tax & Accounting and MidCoast Council.

Meanwhile nominations are open for the Australia Day awards. They are citizen of the year, youth of the year (25 and under), community group of the year and achiever of the year. The sportstar of the year will also be presented and is run in conjunction with the Manning River Times.

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To nominate go to the Club Taree website, click on community and track down to the award nominations.

These close on Monday, January 10.

This will be the third successive year the combined service club have organised the Australia Day celebrations.

For further inquiries contact Rhonda Futterleib on 6539 5300 during office hours.

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