January 26’s national day of celebration will also be marked with ceremonies in Cobargo and Merimbula.

Australia Day ambassador Corey Payne is a former professional rugby league player, having played 131 first grade games for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, the Wests Tigers and the St George Illawarra Dragons.

He was named the NSW Young Australian of Year in 2013 and is the founder and executive chairman of the Future Direction Network (FDN). 

Further to this, Corey was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2012 to conduct global research into organisations that use the power of sport to engage youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to continue their education.

The FDN aims to raise the level of university participation rates amongst students from low socio-economic backgrounds - working with schools and universities to deliver ambition and aspiration building programs and information evenings, as well as providing mentoring and financial support to students from western Sydney.

A vital component of celebrating Australia Day is the Bega Valley Shire Citizen of the Year awards, where local people are recognised for their hard work, achievements and community work.

Tathra’s Debbie Alker is this year’s Citizen of the Year; Des Whitby will receive the Senior of the Year award; Luke Meyers will be acknowledged as the Young Citizen of the Year; Neil Rainbow is the Sportsperson of the Year; and Eileen Cameron will be acknowledged with the Australia Day Award. (click the links for their individual citations)

As well as a citizenship ceremony in Bega, there will be family fun in Littleton Gardens, with a breakfast, market stalls and entertainment from 7.30am. The official ceremony will start at 9am.

The Cobargo event will begin at 11am, while an 8am ceremony will follow a 7.30am start for breakfast in Merimbula.