As community groups throughout central Victoria turned sausages on barbecues, thousands of residents enjoyed the sun on Australia Day.
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On Friday, volunteers from Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst worked through 44 degree heat to set up for Saturday’s celebrations.
Those volunteers were back at Lake Weeroona from 5am to make sure everything was ready for Australia Day.
“It's our biggest day of the year,” Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst member BRuce Fraser said. “Bendigo people like Australia Day at Lake Weeroona.
“Generally there is around 10,000 people here. Some years it's bigger but it’s hard to judge because depends on the day of the week.
“Being a Saturday (this year) there are weekend activities around but we would still get 10,000 people through.”
Mr Fraser said residents hadn’t really changed the way they enjoy Australia Day.
“They're Australians, they like to do things out in the sun,” he said. “They love the SES and CFA trucks and the police cars, and the kids’ activities are always busy.
“Our food choices have changed. We have the gourmet barbecue section because people look for it but we also still have the good old (traditional) sausages as well.
“We have about 150kg of meat anticipated for the day and about 40kg on reserve at the IGA.”
Mayor hopes people appreciate their country on Australia Day
City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke attended the Lake Weeroona, Junortoun and Strathfieldsaye Australia Day celebrations.
“People are very pleased to be out and about, having a good Aussie breakfast,” she said.
“I love the community groups who put it all together. It's important to them to celebrate where they live and that we are very fortunate.”
Cr O’Rourke said the theme of her speech during the Lake Weeroona ceremony was about recognising how fortunate we are.
“It's about really appreciating what we have,” she said. “Australia Day is about embracing what we mean as nation and having that kind respect there for our Aboriginal communities.
“It is very difficult (for Indigenous communities), we must remember it is not a day of celebration for them.
“There is a line of respect (in community celebrations) and so there should be. It's important.”
Cr O’Rourke also oversaw the Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Bendigo Town Hall this afternoon with 48 people becoming Australian citizens.
“For me as mayor, it is one of the proudest activities you can preside over,” she said.
“Many of us who were born here, don't appreciate what those people have gone through.”
Cr O’Rourke said she loved hearing why new citizens chose Bendigo.
“More and more people say they chose Bendigo but have no family here,” she said. “For many (they chose Bendigo) for work or livability. They have researched regional cities and Bendigo has what they want.”
Eaglehawk had one of the earlier ceremonies with Olympic marathon runner Steve Monaghetti joining Eaglehawk citizens of the year Brian Bourke and Aimee Croft at the celebrations.
Junior sport and environmental passions recognised in Castlemaine celebrations
In Castlemaine, about 200 people enjoyed a free barbecue lunch in Victory Park following the morning’s ceremonies.
Ken Maddern was named Mount Alexander Shire’s citizen of the year, young citizen of the year wen to Milou Albrecht and Brian McCormick received the senior citizen of the year award.
The Mount Alexander Seniors Festival was named community event of the year.
Mr Maddern was named citizen of the year for his tireless contribution to junior sports, including his role in upgrading the junior sports precinct at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve, which now has six new netball courts, new cricket nets, state of the art facilities and a multipurpose pavilion.
“It’s been in the process for 20 years,” he said. “It's overwhelming to see something talked about for such a long time and then to have it open the doors is an incredible feeling.
“We have got a fantastic group of junior sports kids and young adults who need somewhere to call home and train.”
Young citizen of the year Milou Albrecht and her fellow students initiated a strike against the inaction which garnered support from other students around the country and made national headlines.
Milou’s passion for the environment and the protest against against inaction on climate change was recognised by Mount Alexander Shire mayor Brownwen Machin.
“What started as a school strike with a few friends quickly morphed into a national day of action that saw thousands of students around the country participating in non-violent protests,” Cr Machin said.
“It’s inspiring to see young people making a difference and pushing for change.”