The Leeton community and visitors are invited to celebrate Australia Day 2024 on Friday, 26 January, with a host of exciting events planned.
- The day will kick off with a free barbeque breakfast hosted by the Rotary Club of Leeton at Mountford Park at 7.30am with music and entertainment provided by the Leeton Town Band.
- The official proceedings will commence at 9.15am and will include a citizenship ceremony to welcome 12 new Australians to Leeton Shire.
- Following the proceedings, a tasty bush tucker lunch will be served. The community is invited to indulge in emu spring rolls and marinated kangaroo, sample a witchety grub pizza and top it off with lemon myrtle cheesecake and wattle seed ice cream – courtesy of Michael Lyons of Sandhill Artefacts.
- In the afternoon, everyone is invited to kick back, relax and cool down at the Leeton Pool Party taking place at the Leeton Regional Aquatic Centre. Admission to the pool is free (from 3pm to 8pm) with plenty of activities on offer including a visit from a Disney Princess, games, inflatable races and more. In addition, the Lions Train will be offering rides for those interested, and SunRice Festival Ambassador entrant Mel Beecham will be hosting a traditional sausage sizzle.
"I'm looking forward to welcoming the community and visitors as well as hosting Leeton's 2024 Australia Day Ambassador Lyndey Milan OAM," said Mayor Cr Tony Reneker.
Lyndey Milan OAM, a familiar face on television and in print, has been instrumental in changing the way Australians think about food and wine for over 30 years via her own nine best-selling cookbooks, nine TV series and influence as former Food Director of the iconic Australian Women's Weekly. She is an award-winning multi-media presenter, MC, speaker, food & wine teacher, consultant, debater, judge and regional Australian specialist who makes numerous TV & culinary appearances.
Australia Day Committee Chairman Cr George Weston strongly encourages residents and visitors to help commemorate this important National Day of Celebration.
"Australia Day is an opportunity for everyone living in the Leeton Shire to think about what it means to be Australian and is an opportunity to reconnect with each other," he said.
"It's for everyone to share in an opportunity to come together and acknowledge our collective contributions to Australia."
In the spirit of coming together and recognising the contributions and efforts of everyone in our community, Council is proud to have again worked towards a more inclusive and accessible event which is being supported for a third year by members of Leeton's local Aboriginal Community.
"This year's event will include a smoking ceremony and a performance by the Parkview Public School Cultural Dance Group as well as a fascinating artefact display," said Leeton Shire Council's Events Officer Fran Macdonald.
The 2024 Community Art Project will be realised in the form of the Survival Day Mural being created by Parkview Public and Leeton High Schools, auspiced by Elijah Ingram. The mural will be unveiled by the Mayor on Thursday, 25 January, and children present for the unveiling will be invited to contribute to the artwork. The event is open to the public and everyone is welcome to enjoy the free breakfast, live music, waterslide, and refreshments from 9am – 12pm at Gossamer Park on Thursday, 25 January.
Queries on Leeton Shire's Australia Day 2024 event can be directed to Council's Events Officer Fran Macdonald on (02) 6953 0911.
