Australia Day events across the shire

The Southern Grampians Shire has a raft of Australia Day events planned along with Australia Day Awards to be handed out, also on January 26.

EVENTS:

Hamilton

10.30am
Hamilton Botanic Gardens (wet weather alternative Hamilton PAC)
Official Southern Grampians Shire Celebrations including flag raising, performances by local musicians, Hamilton Brass, The Hamilton Singers and Footprints the Choir, Citizenship ceremony, Australia Day Award presentations and free light lunch.

Balmoral

10.30am
Seymour Park, corner of Glendinning and Stirling Streets.
Flag raising, guest speaker and free community breakfast.

Branxholme

5.30 – 8pm
Heritage Park, off Henty Highway.
Free BBQ and salads, BYO chairs, picnic rugs and drinks.

Byaduk/North Byaduk

8.30am
Byaduk Sports Pavilion, 1 Byaduk-Penshurst Rd.
Flag Raising ceremony and free breakfast

Cavendish

9-10.30am
Cavendish Town square, Scott St.
Flag raising by Cavendish Scouts, local historian guest speaker, community awards, free community breakfast.

Coleraine

8am
Coleraine Tourist Information Centre, Pilleau St.
Flag raising ceremony, award presentations, guest speaker Bruce Hudgson OAM, Past Council Chairman Lions Club International, community breakfast

Dunkeld

8am
Dunkeld Memorial Park, Parker Street.
Flag raising, local award presentations, guest speaker and free community breakfast.

Glenthompson

3-6pm
Glenthompson Lions Park, Glenelg Hwy.
Flag raising ceremony, guest speakers, BBQ.

Penshurst

8.30am
Penshurst Botanic Gardens, Martin St
Flag Raising Ceremony, guest speaker Paul Sutherland, music, Penshurst Citizen of Year Award, free Lions Club breakfast.

Tarrington

8.30am
Reserve Rotunda,
Flag Raising, Guest Speaker & Free Community BBQ Breakfast

AWARD WINNERS:

Raymond McIntosh – Southern Grampians Shire Council Citizen of the Year

Raymond “Mocka” McIntosh has been a contributor of the local community for a long time, traveling across Australia to set up fights for his boxers.

Boxing is a way of life for Mocka, but it has also been a lifeline to younger citizens, helping kids with needs, and creating opportunities to straighten lives through fitness and dedication. They have started off as beginners, making their way up to pro fighters, and going all of the way to Commonwealth Games trials, Asian-Oceanic Olympic Pre Selections, all after winning multiple State Titles.

Trust has been an important element in Mocka’s Gym, where if kids didn’t have the money for a session they weren’t turned away. Mocka would just say next time and move on, as his work was about getting the best out of the kids with no outside distraction.

As time progressed and the kids turned into young men and women, the sacrifice of time from Mocka didn’t end but was put into the cars, then the bus, driving the district looking for sparring partners.

Mocka’s training runs throughout the week, including women only classes. He assists those that want to take the sport further, male, female and junior members, and has dedicated much of his life to mentoring others.

Mocka is also very involved with the Coleraine RSL, and the annual ANZAC Day march and had played football for Coleraine Football Netball Club for several years.

A great effort whilst also working full-time, husband to wife Helen, raising three kids, and now being a grandfather.

Mocka’s drive and passion for the sport of boxing extends into the everyday lives of his pupils, instilling values that working hard work creates success.

Live 4 Life Crew – Southern Grampians Young Citizen of the Year

The Southern Grampians Live 4 Life Crew (pictured) are Year 9 leaders from across the shire who have volunteered their time to increase understanding, reduce stigma and improve mental health knowledge.

As mental health ambassadors, they share positive mental health messages in their respective schools. In 2022, more than 450 Year 8, 9 and 10 students in the Southern Grampians Shire received teen mental health first aid training through Live 4 Life!

100 BULLDOGS FOR 100 YEARS – Southern Grampians Shire Council Community Event of the Year

More than 120 Bulldog tractors from across Australia converged on the Hamilton Pastoral Museum in October (pictured right) to participate in the Australian record attempt to bring the largest number of Bulldog tractors together to celebrate 100 years since the first Lanz Bulldog tractor rolled off the Germany production line.

The event attracted 1600 enthusiasts from across Australia and was the largest rally ever held on the Hamilton Pastoral Museum’s grounds, establishing the Australian record for the largest gathering of Bulldog tractors.

Considerable work went into planning, setting out and weather proofing the rally grounds.

Bulldog tractors played an important role in Australian agriculture and many of the restored and unrestored tractors showed they still ‘had it’ and participated in tractor pull demonstrations.

The tremendous success of the two-day rally was thanks to the people who brought their tractors long distances to participate and the team of volunteers that worked tirelessly to make the event run so smoothly.

Profits from the event will go towards maintaining and expanding the Hamilton Pastoral Museum’s historic buildings and displays to celebrate the legacy of farming and regional living in western Victoria.

Mayor’s Award – Peter Milburn

Peter has given countless hours to the community of Hamilton and District and to numerous charities through his music.

He plays the banjo, sings and has an excellent sound system which he makes freely available for the events in which he is involved.

Peter has since been instrumental in the establishment of ‘The Evergreens’, which has built an admirable record of community contributions, playing regularly at ‘The Grange’ and ‘The Birches’ and recently for a Western District Health Service fundraising event.

In November last year, ‘The Evergreens’ were a key performer in a concert held at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre to support Care Australia’s Appeal for the Ukraine.

Peter has performed at ‘The Grange’ and ‘The Birches’ at least monthly over many years including intense months of COVID holding sessions outside with speakers so residents could enjoy the performance, but be protected from possible infection.

Numerous charities have benefited from his busking including but not limited to Blaze Aid, Standing Tall, Police Legacy, Drought Appeals, the M.R.I. Appeal, the Hamilton and District Rural Australians for Refugees Group, and H.I.R.L.

Mayor’s Award – YUMCHA Hamilton 18 – 25 Crew

YUMCHA Hamilton 18 – 25 crew is a youth led social group which celebrates diversity, socially connects, and engages young people who identify as LGBTQIA+, their friends and allies.

The young people involved in this group are amazing community champions, who use their lived experience to create awareness as they support health promotion and inclusion through activities including planning projects and events showing great leadership whilst being positive role models for the younger group members.

Each of the groups personal efforts have made a significant contribution to the community.

Southern Grampians Shire Council Community Recognition Awards