Please note: this is an archived news article release

This article was published on Tuesday, 14 January, 2020. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Celebrate Australia Day in Your Town

Ceremonies, events and entertainment will be held in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Tatura, Dookie, Arcadia, Toolamba and Murchison.

Celebrations around the region will feature flag raising ceremonies, guest speakers, Australia Day Ambassadors, entertainment and the presentation of the 2020 Australia Day Awards.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Seema Abdullah, encouraged all residents to celebrate what it means to be Australian.

“Australia Day is a day to reflect on what it means to be Australian, to celebrate contemporary Australia and to acknowledge our history,” Cr Abdullah said.

“We encourage all residents to take pride in their country on 26 January and reflect on who we are as a nation.

“Australia Day is a day for people from every walk of life to celebrate the things we love about our country.”

The following events will take place in Greater Shepparton:

Shepparton
Where: The Queen’s Gardens
When: 8.45 am
The citizenship ceremony will also be conducted and Australia Day awards will be presented. There will also be a variety of free food for brunch available along with musical entertainment by Jessica Loraine and children’s activities.

Ambassador: Ms Ann Peacock
Ann Peacock is General Manager of Community and Charity at Crown. Her role as the face and voice of Crown, both to the public and to the business people of Melbourne, is the culmination of over 30 years of PR and marketing industry experience.

Arcadia
Where: Arcadia Recreation Reserve and Community Centre
When: 8.00am
A free breakfast will be held with attendees.

Ambassador: Ms Lindy Allen
Lindy Allen has been involved in the arts industry for the better part of four decades. She has brought this experience to bear as CEO of both Regional Arts Victoria and Regional Arts Australia. Lindy continues to leverage her experience to help other artists via her independent consultancy Living-Proof Media.

Dookie
Where: CWA Gardens Dookie
When: 10.00am
The Dookie CWA and the Dookie Lions Club will provide Devonshire tea. There will be time for people to meet, mingle and enjoy the day.

Ambassador: Mr Paul Guerra
Paul Guerra is currently the CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), a member based, not-for-profit organisation with a history of over 165 years. The society is best known for producing the Royal Melbourne Show, Royal Melbourne Wine Awards, Australia Food Awards and the Australian International Beer Awards.

Mooroopna
Where: Ferrari Park
When: 10.30am
There will be a flag raising ceremony. The will be an address by a key note speaker. Mooroopna Australia Day Awards will be presented. Official proceedings will be followed by a sausage sizzle.

Ambassador: Mr Craig Opie OAM
Craig Opie OAM is easily counted among Victoria’s most successful and influential tourism business leaders. He was managing director of Colonial Tramcar Restaurants and Eureka Skydeck, two of Melbourne’s most recognisable attractions. His success and service to the industry has seen him recognised with numerous awards and plaudits.

Murchison
Where: Murchison Swimming Pool
When: 8.00am
Attendees will hear from Dr Graeme Begg and will be able to enjoy a BBQ breakfast followed by the presentation of Australia Day awards.

Special Guest: Dr Graeme Begg

Graeme Begg attended school in Murchison played sport in Murchison and now is a geologist of world renown, conducting lectures for many universities and business groups.

Dr Begg also was instrumental in the organisation of the 50th meteorite celebrations, obtaining speakers from the USA.

Tatura
Where: Tatura Italian Social Club.
When: 8.30am
A free breakfast will be held from 8.30am at the Tatura Italian Social Club. Australia Day awards will be presented and a morning tea will be held at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Special Guest: Daniel Baer

Daniel Baer was born and raised in Tatura. He attended Tatura Primary School followed by Mooroopna Secondary College. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and PhD at The University of Melbourne. Concentrating on the extraction of titanium from its various ores through a novel extraction technique. Then going onto work for, Australian Defence Industries (ADI), at their Mulwala explosives factory.

The factory is now owned by Thales, and is part of the Thales subsidiary company of Australian Munitions, which along with its sister plant in Benalla, makes energetic materials and munitions for the Australian Defence Forces, and other customers. Currently, Daniel has been heavily involved in the building of the new propellant facility, which now produces all the propellant for defence and other customers.

Toolamba
Where: Toolamba Recreation Reserve
When:11.00am
Australia Day awards will be presented. A free BBQ will take place at the end of proceedings.

For full profiles on the Australia Day Ambassadors visit the Australia Day website.