Despite the threatening skies a healthy number of people turned up for the Australia Day ceremony starting at 10.30am.

An enthusiastic Sing Australia choir helped get people in the mood, as the stands slowly filled up in the humid conditions.

Drums and bagpipes then took over and the local dignitaries filed into the showground arena to do their bit for the country's big day.

Glen Hanna gave a welcome to country address on behalf of the Birpai people and the Bunyah Land Council.

Then, as the Wauchope Scouts were starting to raise the Australian, Aboriginal, NSW, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and Australia Day flags, a gust of wind raised one of their tents too, flipping it upside down, but with no great damage done.

Weather gods seemingly appeased, the show went on.

The Federal Member for Lyne David Gillespie then spoke on the significance of citizenship and praised the recipients of local and Order of Australia awards.

He then outlined the democratic freedoms and principles we enjoy in this country that make it possible for us to have the Australian notion of "a fair go" operating, and the need to defend those principles.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor, the very tall Peter Besseling, then rose to give his address, discovering that the height of the marquee roof, while adequate for most people, was lower than the top of his head, which was rubbing against it.

Australia Day Ambassador Henry Szeps demonstrated his improvisational skills and initiative by standing and pushing up the "roof" to give the Mayor some head space, until a more conventional method was found to prop up the stage covering.

But that's showbiz and, once again, the show went on.

Cr Besseling found much to be grateful for in the "character and spirit" of our Anzac troops and believed a similar spirit of adventure exists in the current generation of Australians, along with the mateship ethos, and a willingness to contribute to the community.

"The spirit and character that has shaped our nation lives within us all. We must nurture it, protect it, and encourage it to spread. By simply having a go and helping others we are fostering a community that will be both resilient and compassionate, daring and kind, brave and considerate.

"We must make the most of our opportunity by considering the sacrifices and belief that men and women of previous time had for our country and for its citizens. We owe it to them and we owe it to ourselves to make the most of it. Happy Australia Day."

Deputy Mayor Justin Levido outlined the merits of those individuals and groups nominated for the local Australia Day awards, before the Hastings Citizen of the Year, Wauchope's Neville Parsons spoke on the need to engage young people in community endeavours.

Then the Member for Oxley, Andrew Stoner, said "G'day" to everyone.

"Australia Day in wonderful Wauchope, the heart of the heavenly Hastings - you wouldn't be dead for quids," Mr Stoner said.

Mr Stoner then ran through some of the reasons for this, including the quality of the people in this area, before moving on to the democratic freedoms mentioned earlier by Dr Gillespie, adding that "the really good thing about a democracy is if you've got a crook government you can give 'em the boot".

But he said these freedoms had come at a high cost, involving the suffering and sacrifice of previous generations fighting in wars.

"There has been a heavy price paid for the freedoms we enjoy and the democratic system that makes this a fair and great country. And I was troubled to read that recently a group of people in Sydney said that they reject those freedoms and they reject that democracy. Well I've got a message for those people: You'd better get used to them, or if you don't like them, you can pack up and go back to where you came from. Because a very heavy price has been paid for those freedoms. We are not going to change for you. This is Australia, this is what makes Australia great. Thank you."

The Wauchope High School captains, Eliza Colby and Willis Thompson also spoke, the Ambassador Henry Szeps gave an entertaining talk and ministers Judy Taylor and Peter Huxley prayed for the community and the nation.

People sang, the multi-lamington Australia Day cake was symbolically cut by Henry Szeps and the ceremony was over.

Within a couple of minutes it started raining.

How lucky was that!

(Go to: www.wauchopegazette.com.au to view more pics from Australia Day)