Get your sizzle on for Australia Day

AFTER a year where many events and opportunities to gather in groups have been cancelled, communities will come together on Tuesday, 26 January to mark Australia Day.

Annual breakfasts are scheduled across the Shire, albeit with some changes due to COVID-19.

The Lions Club of Bannockburn & District is behind the town’s breakfast and president David Underhay said now, more than ever, events like it are important.

“People need to get together after such a drastic time, so that’s why we wanted to do it this year,” he said.

“We just get so many people through, it’s a tradition for a lot of people and has been a tradition of Bannockburn Lions for a long time.

“It’s a great atmosphere, everybody chats, and we have a local who comes across and sets up a PA system and plays music throughout the breakfast.”

It’s more than just sausages on offer, with a decent spread of morning favourites to get you set for a big day of celebrating the nation.

“We’ve got bacon, eggs, sausages bread onions, juice and we’re pretty sure the coffee van is going to be here,” he said. “People just roll up and sit where they can!”

“It’s a community service, we don’t charge for it, however if people want to make a donation, we won’t refuse it.”

Up in the north of the Shire, and now in its 32nd year, the Scarsdale breakfast is also still going ahead, however it’s moved from its traditional location at the old town hall, to four-and-a-half kilometres up the road to the Smythesdale Historic Precinct.

Marg Roberts of the Woady Yaloak Historical Society – the group behind the event – echoed the sentiments of Mr Underhay and said rather than cancel the gathering altogether, there was a real community need to run the breakfast.

“I think everybody needs to get together and celebrate,” Ms Roberts said. “It’s been a boring period of time and we really need to come together as a community.”

Normally the Scarsdale event offers a full sit-down breakfast as well as guest speakers, however with the aim of being COVID-safe, the gathering has been dialled back for this year.

“We’d normally do cereal, bacon and eggs, and pancakes and that’s just not feasible,” Ms Roberts said.

“So we’re just having a sausage sizzle in the open at Smythesdale.

“In Scarsdale we’d usually get around 200 people inside the hall and that’s also not feasible because of COVID.”

Find your Australia Day event

Bannockburn – 8.30am at the Lions Park Bannockburn. No cost. Contact: David Underhay, 0418 141 831 – Organised by Lions Club of Bannockburn & District

Linton – 8am to 10am, Linton Recreation Reserve – $5 adults, primary ages children FREE. Contact: Gavin Ross, [email protected] – Organised by Linton CFA

Scarsdale – 8am at the Historic Precinct in Smythesdale – Free. BYO cup, chair, rug etc. Contact: Marg Roberts, [email protected] – Organised by Woady Yaloak Historical Society

Shelford – 8am at Shelford Hall for flag raising, 8.30am breakfast at Shelford Cricket Club rotunda. Gold coin donation. BYO drinks, chairs, rug etc. Contact: Helen Daffy, [email protected] – Organised by Shelford Progress Society

Teesdale – 8am at Teesdale Hall, flag raising followed by breakfast. Contact: Geoff Wild, [email protected] – Organised by Inverleigh Leigh Valley Lions Club, Native Hut CWA and Teesdale Hall committee.

Note: events in Inverleigh and Meredith will not run this year.