Bega
Communities around the Bega Valley Shire will be celebrating Australia Day on Monday in a variety of ways and with a variety of activities.
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The official shire celebration will be held Littleton Gardens in Bega, with the wet weather venue, if needed, the Bega Showground in Upper St.
A free breakfast in the park will be available from 7.30am with the official ceremony starting at 8.30am hosted by Deputy Mayor Liz Seckold with Andrew Gray of South East Arts as the master of ceremonies.
There will be the presentation of Bega Valley Shire Citizens awards to Marie Smith of Bega and Janita Fernandez of Merimbula and Young Citizens of the Year Awards to Imogen Pittolo of Bega and Kalidevi Samuels-Connell of Pericoe.
There will also be a citizenship ceremony where 10 people will become Australian citizens.
There will be an address from Australia Day ambassador Olympic swimming medallist Mark Tonelli and then the presentation of the Bega Chamber of Commerce and Industry Community Citizen of the Year awards with entertainment by Brittany Meers and Jake Whyman.
At 10am, Mr Tonelli will judge the “Thongathon: What makes you an Aussie fan?” competition with Bega Valley Regional Art Gallery curator Iain Dawson.
Bermagui
The Bermagui Seaside Fair Committee will feature Australia Day again this year for its “Umbrellas of Bermagui” project launched last year.
Bermagui businesses have purchased 20 three-metre shade umbrellas and 20 very accomplished artists are decorating them with amazing designs.
The committee plans to auction each umbrella at the Seaside Fair on March 14 to raise money for local preschools.
The Umbrellas of Bermagui will go on display from 10.30am on Australia Day on the lawns in front of the Bermagui Country Club, accompanied by a sausage sizzle.
Australia Day ambassador for the Bega Valley Shire Mark Tonelli will also attend.
Merimbula
The Merimbula Rotary Club will host a ceremony in Rotary Park, which gets underway with a gold coin donation breakfast from 7am.
The Sapphire Coast Concert Band will perform at 7.30am and there will be a static display of historic Australian cars by the Sapphire Coast Historical Vehicle Club with the official ceremony starting at 8.30am.
This will include community service award presentations, as well as addresses from Mayor Michael Britten and Merimbula Australia Day ambassador Alexandra Seddon from Potoroo Palace.
Pambula Beach
The Sapphire Aquatic Centre and the Pambula Swim Club will host a sausage sizzle and meet and greet with Australia Day ambassador Mark Tonelli in a pre-Australia Day function from 1.45pm on Sunday.
Members of the public will also be invited to attend and gold coin donations to the swimming club would be appreciated.
Mr Tonelli will speak about his swimming achievements.
Cobargo
Official program starts at noon, but a sausage sizzle and get together will kick off the day from 11am onwards.
The official program will include the announcement of the Cobargo and District Citizen of the Year and Junior Citizen of the Year and an Australia Day address from the shire’s Mayor Michael Britten after the Merimbula ceremony.
The new school captains of Cobargo and Quaama Public Schools will make their first speeches in their new roles and after the formalities there will be more refreshments.
Eden
The annual Australia Day business house cricket challenge will be hosted by the Eden Cricket Club and this year will introduce the new six-a-side format with six innings and every player bowling an over.
Entry per team is $50 and the winning side will have the chance to nominate a charity to receive the donations raised on the day.
Teams must include at least one female player and runs scored by the ladies and under-14s will be doubled.
The day will start at 10.30am at the Eden Cricket Ground.
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