Scores of people, young and old, walked around in T-shirts bearing the name of local hero Matthew Dellavedova, a star for American basketball team the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The event, paid for by the NBA franchise, drew an Australia Day crowd twice as big as usual, Central Goldfields Shire mayor Geoff Lovett said.

“Today’s event has gone beyond our wildest expectations. The crowd has been absolutely fantastic,” he said. “This has been a really special Australia Day 2016.”

Early festivities focused on other residents and their usually unsung work in the community. Gary Higgins, a Rotarian, sports administrator, businessman, former councillor and campaigner to reduce family violence was named the citizen of the year.

“People are starting to talk about family violence and starting to question each other on how our kids and our women in particular can live in a safe family environment,” he said. 

Young citizen of the year, Brandon Weatherston, an accomplished sportsman, coach and teacher’s assistant, said he felt humbled.

“Being part of a small community, we should all get involved … I’d encourage everyone to go out and get involved in a community group,” he said.

Sabrina Tjang, an MBA student from Indonesia, was one of eight who became Australian citizens.

“I came here eight and a half years ago,” she said. “I love Australia. I love the way Australians respect people’s rights.”

A brass band, basketball clinics, free merchandise and barbecues provided fun for everyone before families settled down to watch the Cavaliers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Australia Day-themed season match.

A strong crowd cheered Dellavedova each time he went near the ball as the game was beamed out from a big screen on the stage.

Taking it all in were Dellavedova’s parents, who were enjoying the excitement around their son.

His mother, Leanne, enjoyed the event but had one light-hearted lament: not being able to get any “G’Day Mate” coffee – which features her son’s face on packaging. It’s being produced by the Cleveland Coffee Co.

“The coffee is being promoted today in America. It would have been great to have some here in time, but it wasn’t possible,” she said, smiling.

LONG-SERVING Maryborough volunteer firefighter Darryl Wagstaff has been awarded the Australian Fire Services Medal.

Mr Wagstaff, the local fire brigade captain, said he was honoured to receive the prestigious medal.

“It was a great surprise. It’s a big honour and it’s humbling that your peers think enough of you to nominate you for the award,” he said.

Mr Wagstaff joined the CFA as a 10-year-old in 1973. He has been the local fire brigade captain for almost 27 years.

The veteran firefighter– who is an undertaker – is also a District 2 state councillor and has been a delegate to regional councils since 1984.

“Even though it’s an individual award, it’s an award for all the people I’ve worked closely with, past and present,” he said.

Mateship, Mr Wagstaff added, was a big part of the satisfaction he gained from being involved in volunteer firefighting.

“The memories I have are of the camaraderie we have through the brigade and the competitions,” he said.

“My two strongest memories are incident related. The first was the Avoca-Maryborough fires that happened in 1985.

“I have vivid memories of getting the message at ten to two on a Monday afternoon and not getting home until the Saturday.”

The other relates to the devastating Black Saturday fires of 2009, when Mr Wagstaff was among those who went to Kinglake.

“I think from going through a tragedy, you get a better understanding of what’s happened – you draw on that and become a stronger person,” he said.

Pavlova comp a winning recipe

MARYBOROUGH’S inaugural “Cav Pav” competition was declared a success by organisers who hope it will be bigger and better next year.

Seventeen pavlovas with a Cleveland Cavaliers theme were entered into the competition, held as part of Australia Day celebrations. A Ballarat woman – baking her first pavlova – won.

Councillor Wendy McIvor, the organiser, said she would look to grow the competition next year.

“Our citizen of the year, Gary Higgins, has said he would get behind it and he’s part of the baking industry,” she said. 

Pavlovas were chosen to add an Australian flavour to the public screening of the Cavaliers’ “Australia Day” match, which featured Maryborough’s Matthew Dellavedova. 

Debate has raged over whether the pavlova originated here or in New Zealand. Ironically, mini New Zealand flags ended up on the competition’s pavlovas after a packaging error.

“They were labelled Australian flags,” Cr McIvor said.