ABOVE-AVERAGE temperatures did not stop hundreds of people gathering at Australia Day events throughout the district on Friday.
Seven celebrations occurred on the day to mark the 230th anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival, with the majority of events held mid-morning.
Numerous Cohuna residents were out early prior to the start of the town’s official ceremony to gain a vantage point within Garden Park.
Lions Club of Cohuna members were kept busy providing a cooked breakfast for those in attendance prior to the official proceedings, which included the announcement of the Lions club’s citizen of the year, Shirley Costello.
It was a similar situation at Kerang, where Rotary Club of Kerang members helped serve a cooked breakfast to the more than 120 people in attendance at Atkinson Park.
Many of the children in attendance took advantage of the neighbouring playground as official proceedings occurred, which involved the Lions Club of Kerang receiving the honour of raising the Australian flag.
As it tradition, Barham and Koondrook shared their celebrations, with a gathering held on the New South Wales-side of the Murray River at Riverside Park.
The event also enabled residents to congratulate Graham Minnis on receiving the Murray River Council’s Citizen of the Year, as well as the Golden Rivers Dance group, which took out the municipality’s Arts/Cultural Award.
Smaller celebrations occurred during the morning at the Murrabit Market Lions Shelter, the Quambatook Memorial Hall and Lalbert Community Park, with Leitchville’s celebrations held in the evening at the town’s recreation reserve.
All gatherings included the raising of the Australian flag, the singing of Advance Australia Fair and recognition for Gannawarra Shire Councils 2018 award winners, Jodie Hay (Citizen of the Year) and Maddison Makeham (Young Citizen of the Year).
