Our town celebrated Australia Day in style this year at the Wauchope Showground.
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Aussie breakfasts were served up, and young and old had their faces painted and enjoyed games. There was a vintage car display and Wauchope Rotary members provided a BBQ.
The town’s Sing Australia group performed a medley of tunes and the crowd joined in a singalong.
The Hastings District Pipe Band, in their fabulous tartan, led the procession into the hall for the official ceremony.
Master of Ceremonies Neville Parsons gave a welcome to country. Then came the raising of the flags by Wauchope Scouts.
Reverend Peter Huxley conducted the opening prayer and the Mayor of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, Peta Pinson welcomed everyone to Australia Day in Wauchope.
“Australia Day is a day where we recognise the contribution of all Australians, from our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been here for more than 60,000 years, those who have lived here for many years, and those who have come from all corners of the globe,” said Councillor Pinson.
She said we are living the dream here, and a big part of Australia Day is recognising the people and groups who contribute to the community.
Oxley member Melinda Pavey MP told the gathering that education is the key to a prosperous country, and said Wauchope people make the place incredibly special by contributing to the community in a very genuine way.
Australia Day ambassador and SBS TV journalist Liz Deep-Jones also paid tribute to local volunteers for their wonderful community spirit. She said her parents moved to Sydney from Lebanon and always insisted that their children were brought up as Australians.
“When people come to Australia, no matter where they are from, it’s important that they learn the language and culture otherwise they lead a very isolated life.
“We have everything in this country: a great education system, a great welfare system. I feel very blessed that I have been able to travel and live the dream,” added Ms Deep-Jones.
Councillor Peter Alley congratulated Senior Citizen of the Year, George Campbell, who’s involved in Wauchope Rotary, his church in Beechwood, Wauchope Farmers Market, Wauchope Sing Australia and the Hastings Woodworkers Guild.
George told the Gazette what the day meant to him.
”Australia Day to me means that people from all nations come together and celebrate and feel at home with being Australian. Multiculturalism is very important on a day like this. I know it’s a difficult time for our Aboriginal folk, but I’m pleased that they join in and give their Welcome To Country,” he said.
Bob Gilligan from Wauchope Rotary at Wauchope Showground said Australia Day means everything to me.
“I was in the Army Reserve for 20 years. My main reason for joining was to defend Australia and keep it the way it is. I love Australia for the people, the climate, the beaches, the bush, everything,” he added.
Mayor Peta Pinson welcomed five new Australian citizens to Wauchope. Josh Slocombe, originally from England, loves the town and says it’s a very friendly, welcoming community, and that Australia is a beautiful country. A family of four, originally from South Africa, Hank and Sharon Vingerhoets and daughters Lauren and Megan, also love living in the Hastings.
They made a solemn commitment to uphold the values, privileges and responsibilities of being Australian.
The crowd then sang “We are Australian” followed by the national anthem, and the celebration concluded with the cutting of the Australia Day cake.