Waterfront to host new Australia Day family day

GEELONG’S Australia Day family celebrations will move to the waterfront this year, with a new event to be incorporated into the Festival of Sails.

The Australia Day Family Day will be held at Steampacket Garden on January 26 between 11am and 4pm, offering a free and accessible option for families marking the public holiday.

The move follows the surprise cancellation of the long-running Children’s Fun Day in Rippleside Park due to volunteer shortages and rising costs.

In response, the City of Greater Geelong redirected the funding previously allocated to the Rippleside event to support family-friendly activities within the Festival of Sails, which runs from January 24 to 26 and attracts more than 100,000 visitors to the Geelong waterfront each year.

Festival of Sails chair Phil Francis said the annual Festival of Sails event has always been about bringing people together and the organising committee were proud to be able to offer an alternative Australia Day celebration.

“We’re always welcoming more ways we can connect with the Geelong community,” he said. “The council has been very supportive in helping us accommodate these changes to the Monday festival, and we’re pleased to expand the program even further to give families and locals another great reason to come down and enjoy the weekend.

“Festival of Sails and the Children’s Fun Day both have a long history in Geelong, and we’re proud to be able to support carrying that forward this year.

“Being able to bring the Family Fun Day onto Steampacket Gardens feels like a natural fit in an area where we’re already celebrating our Made in Geelong Artisan Market. It’s going to be a great family-friendly area with Come and Try Sailing Experiences, Tall Ships, and the Rubbish Boat from Project Interrupt out on Wangim Walk.

“We’re looking forward to a great weekend of live music and festival fun across the entire waterfront.”Geelong mayor Stretch Kontelj said the city was excited to support the event organisers to deliver the Australia Day family day.

“It will be a very fun, family-friendly and free celebration at Steampacket Gardens, with two massive jumping castles, face painting, roving performers and live entertainment by Piano Bar Geelong,” he said.

“I can’t wait to see families getting together to celebrate Australia Day on our incredible waterfront.”

The family day will take place alongside a range of other Australia Day activities across the region.

Those looking for a relaxed option can head to the Geelong Botanic Gardens, where live swing and rock ‘n’ roll music will carry across the Camellia Lawn at the Visitors Information Centre.

The Cool Cats Club will play from 11am to 4pm, with locals invited to drop in, bring a picnic rug or chair and enjoy an informal, all-ages celebration.

Everyone is welcome and no bookings are required.

In Lara, locals will mark the day with a free community breakfast at the Lara Sporting Club oval between 8am and 10am.

The event will include the presentation of the Lara Citizen of the Year awards.

The festivities will continue at the club into the afternoon with live music, children’s entertainment and food and drink specials between noon and 4pm.

January 26 will also be marked as a day of reflection and protest.

Be Tru 2 Uluru Geelong will host a community rally in Little Malop Street, bringing together First Nations people and allies to advocate for truth-telling, treaty and justice.

“Our rally is to bring Community together to reflect, to heal, to listen and to cry truth and justice for matters of justice for First Nation Australians and all Australians,” Be Tru 2 Uluru said in a post on social media.

“Our rally aims to raise awareness and advocate for change, addressing the pressing issues of injustice that disproportionately impact on our First Nations People.

“We want to see real solutions and a dedication to Treaty from changemakers.”

The rally will begin at noon at the Market Square Mall with speakers including Aunty Annie Nicholson, Aunty Wendy Brabham and Reconciliation Victoria co-chair Professor Andrew Gunstone. A march around the CBD will follow.