LEETON shire residents joined together to celebrate Australia Day yesterday, with smiles, laughs and memories all shared.
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The day became with the smell of barbecues wafting across the shire, with the Yanco Lions Club serving up a feast for all at the town's community hall.
All eyes were soon on Leeton at the official ceremony for the day, which included numerous honours being handed out.
Alma Herrmann was named citizen of the year, Emma Reneker young citizen of the year and Enid Tuckett was announced as the 2015 lifelong citizen to the shire.
This year's ambassador, filmmaker Anupam Sharma, was a hit with the crowd, reading a poem that resonated with many.
He said Australia Day was about celebrating as a community.
"Thank you for having me here today, it's an absolute honour," Mr Sharma said.
The official ceremony also included a welcome to country from William Ingram and the raising of both the Aboriginal and Australian flags.
The gathered crowd enjoyed a cooler-than-usual Australia Day morning, with mayor Paul Maytom wishing everyone all the best for the occasion and the new year in his annual address.
"On Australia Day we come together to reflect on what we have achieved," councillor Maytom said.
As well as the official events, many residents also enjoyed gathering at home to mark the day.
Australia Day Committee chairman George Weston was pleased with the support.
"It's great to lookout in the crowd and see everyone here," he said.
AUSTRALIA Day celebrations were well attended across Bland Shire yesterday, as festivities spread across West Wyalong, Ungarie, Weethalle, Barmedman and Mirrool.
Actor and author Bruce Venables gave an address at the Lions Club breakfast and Bland Shire Australia Day awards in West Wyalong's McCann Park yesterday as the 2015 Shire's Australia Day Ambassador.
Born in Hobart, Mr Venables was a Detective 1st Class in the Tasmania Police and later served as an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police Force during the 1970s, before writing for stage, film and television in 1984, in addition to his seven novels.
The West Wyalong Local Aboriginal Land Council provided traditional bush tucker as the West Wyalong Town Band provided entertainment before the presentation of awards and citizenship ceremony.
Louise Butler was named citizen of the year as the friendly face behind the counter at the Weethalle Post Office.
She is heavily involved in the community-run Weethalle Country Club and volunteers her time with the elderly to organise and host bus trips and other forms of entertainment.
The Jumpinforjack dinner and auction night that raised more than $75,000 to support 13-year-old Jack Wason, who's living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, was awarded community group of the year, while the Dean Wood Jam Night claimed event of the year.
Damian Johnston was recognised for his achievement in sport and Sharon Cattle for her contribution to sport.
"(Australia Day) is an opportunity to reflect on what Australia is and how damn lucky we are," Bland Shire mayor Neil Pokoney said.
HAY'S Australia Day celebrations began with a breakfast and flag-raising ceremony before an official address and awards presentation.
Dr Stepan Kerkaysharian delivered an address as Hay's Australia Day ambassador as local community efforts were recognised.
Brandon Barnes was named young citizen of the year and Peter Dwyer the citizen of the year for his work on CASE 4 to prevent suicide in the town.
Garry May was responsible for event of the year by raising $68,000 for Can Assist in Hay.
Stuart Callaghan was recognised for his sporting achievement by promoting tennis among children, and Brian Harrington received the achievement in sport award.
St Vincent de Paul was the recipient of the community award, while Carol and Laurie Tighe received the Gavin Johnson Memorial Award.
Celebrations then spilled on to the John Houston Memorial swimming pool.
AUSTRALIA Day celebrations across Gundagai Shire featured addresses from the Minister for Primary Industries and a national news presenter.
Proceedings started with a barbecue breakfast provided by the local Lions Club, before mayor Abb McAlister gave the opening address.
Member for Burrinjuck Katrina Hodgkinson delivered a minister's message and presented the Australian Citizenship certificates, while Sky News journalist Jacinta Tynan gave the Australia Day address as Gundagai's Australia Day ambassador.
Kristen Bartlett, Marianna Halasz, Graeme Ingold and Phillip Smith were awarded certificates of appreciation.
Ann Metcalfe was named citizen of the year, while Gundagai Rural Fire Service Cadets claimed young citizen of the year category.
Nangus Public School touch football team took out the sports achievement award, while Jane Lemon was named sportsperson of the year.
THE founder of Australia's first perishable food rescue organisation delivered the Greater Hume Shire's Australia day address as its 2015 ambassador.
Ronni Kahn founded OzHarvest, which collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and delivers it, direct and free of charge, to 600 charities across the country.
A barbecue breakfast started Australia Day proceedings in Gerogery before awards were presented and Gerogery Public School students provided a musical performance.
Bernard Clark and Myra Frohling were joint recipients of the citizen of the year award for the Greater Hume Shire.
Lana Kane was named young citizen of the year.
Sporting all-rounder Ruth Kotzur took out the sports award and the Holbrook Equine Centre's New Year's Eve BNS Ball was named event of the year.
"It was very well attended," Greater Hume mayor Heather Wilton said.
"It was a beautiful setting, a very positive ceremony and was enjoyed by everyone."
Morning tea provided by the Gerogery community followed and the World Peace Flame and sculpture was displayed in addition to fire trucks, vintage and historical vehicles.
OLYMPIC boxer Rick Timperi assisted with Cootamundra Australia Day celebrations as the shire's 2015 ambassador.
A flag-raising ceremony and barbecue breakfast at Jubilee Park was followed by a horse and carriage display and poetry recital from Bruce Ward.
Mr Timperi migrated to Australia from Italy at the age of four, took up boxing at 10 and had established himself as a serious sportsman by the age of 17.
He has competed in 150 bouts with an 85 per cent success rate before retiring after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
The official ceremony included the announcement of Australia Day awards across the shire.
Ed Hamilton was named citizen of the year as a stalwart volunteer with Meals on Wheels and volunteering his time to take people to medical appointments in Wagga and Canberra.
Cootamundra mayor Jim Slattery said Mr Hamilton was also the instigator of a food van that provided firefighters with meals during fire season.
Will Roberts, 15, was named young citizen of the year, while representative soccer player Annette Parkinson was sportsperson of the year.
Sisters Mavis Bracken and Jill Dodwell received a commitment to the community award for their 30-year contribution to Meals on Wheels and in the Cootamundra Saleyards canteen.
The late Arthur Menzies was given a special mention after he left money to various organisations in town that are now starting to feel its benefit.
"I think there were more people today than there has been the last two years," Councillor Slattery said.
COOLAMON Shire Council's Australia Day celebrations at Beckom Park saw one man become an Australian citizen.
"Today we come together to celebrate all that is good about Australia, a democracy that allows individuals freedom of thought and expression," Coolamon mayor John Seymour said in his address.
"A country that is tolerant, strong and accepting."
Olympic water polo gold medallist Debbie Watson OAM then gave an address as Coolamon's Australia Day ambassador.
She became the first female waterpolo player to make it into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2008.
Martin Jean Frechette took an oath as he was sworn in as an Australian citizen at the citizenship ceremony.
Emma Corbett was named young citizen of the year for her community contributions, while Kaarin Edyvean was citizen of the year for organising the Music for Mates suicide prevention and awareness concert.
Beckom Public School P6 relay team (Oscar Day, Emma Collis, Jim Griffin and Benjamin Grinter) claimed the young sportsperson of the year award, after taking out silver at the NSW Primary School Sports Association athletics championships in October.
Noel 'Buster' Fairman took out the Shane Till Memorial Award for sporting achievement.
He was involved in the initial amalgamation of the Ardlethan and Ariah Park Auskick competition, which paved the way for junior football, senior football and netball clubs to proceed.
The 2014 Rural Women's Gathering was named community event of the year, after 180 women attended the three-day event in September.
MURRUMBIDGEE Shire recognised its citizens in separate Darlington Point and Coleambally ceremonies.
Coleambally's citizen of the year was Susan Inglis
A relative newcomer to the community Ms Inglis threw herself into the Coleambally's community - involved in the Lions Club, the Licola Wilderness Village Camp and the Country Women's Association, among others.
Timothy Hayes was named Coleambally's young citizen of the year for his involvement in the NSW Duke of Edinburgh's award and other community activities.
Jayden Brain was named sportsperson of the year for his excellence in karate.
Darlington Point's citizen of the year award went to Jeff King for his continued commitment to the community.
The community's sportsperson of the year was Josh Fattore who was recognised for his ability in rugby league and all-round sporting excellence.
Both events were attended by Murrumbidgee Shire Australia Day ambassador Gary Dawson, who deputy mayor Phillip Wells described as "very inspiring".
LOCKHART Shire residents packed The Rock pool to celebrate a diverse range of achievements by members of the tight-knit community.
Mayor Peter Yates described the Australia Day events as fantastic, saying they highlighted the strength of the community.
Lockhart stalwart Charlie Smith was named citizen of the year, for more than four decades of tireless commitment to the showgrounds, the racing community and the shire as a whole.
Mr Smith has been extensively involved in the picnic races and was also recognised for his efforts in helping community members during the 2010 and 2012 floods.
His own home was also devastated during this period.
Australia Day awards went to Brooke Peel, for excellence in athletics; Holly Murphy for excellence in netball and swimming; Leia Theile, for her contribution to the community and Heather Trevaskis for her contribution to the museum and history society.
Royce Hunter was named junior sportsperson of the year.
Royce has represented the shire in regional zone sport and inter-state zone sport.
He is particularly noted for his excellence in Australian football.
Melanie Guttler was named senior sportsperson of the year for her excellence in swimming in state and regional competitions.
Lockhart Shire's Australia day ambassador was Olympic Games figure skater Jo Carter.
Councillor Yates called the day a success.
"It was a very special event today at The Rock," Cr Yates said.
MORE than 200 Tumbarumba Shire residents flocked to the library precinct for Australia Day celebrations.
Mayor Ian Chaffey applauded the celebrations.
Former army personnel and current Tumbarumba primary school teacher Cameron Bramich was the town's Australia Day ambassador.
"It's always a great event and really enjoyable," Councillor Chaffey said.
The town's citizen of the year was Paul McPherson, who has been heavily involved in a variety of community groups for a number of years.
Mr McPherson suffered a significant accident in 2014 but continued to participate in the community.
Jan Smith was named senior citizen of the year for his contribution of arts in Tumbarumba.
Mr Smith was instrumental in creating the play Murder on the Wagga Wagg Express.
Brin Hussell was named junior citizen of the year, for her volunteer work in African communities abroad.
"It was a great occasion and contributed to the social fabric of the society," Cr Chaffey said.
TEMORA Shire residents had the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of Australia Day with morning festivities at Ariah Park and the shire's formal ceremony at Gloucester Park.
Channel Seven's House Rules program judge and architect Joe Snell was Temora Shire's Australia Day ambassador, having won national design awards for commercial, event and retail projects.
He attended an Australia Day breakfast at Davey Park in Ariah Park where locals, Debbie Rees, Kevin Harper and Fran Telser were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the region.
Celebrations continued in Temora in the afternoon for the official ceremony.
Neil Martin was named citizen of the year for his 40-year contribution to various clubs, including Temora Bowling and Recreation Club, as well as his voluntary auditing work for numerous community groups.
Lachlan Reichstine, whose grandmother was citizen of the year several years back, was young citizen of the year for his community contributions, while Temora High School's Cabaret claimed event of the year for its production Temora True on saving the town from being obliterated off the map.
Patricia Thomas received a special Australia Day award for her tiring work as founding president of the Special Persons and Carers Group.
"Australia Day is always very well attended," Temora Shire mayor Rick Firman said.
"It's for all people of all age groups.
"It's an opportunity to reflect on how blessed we are as a community and as a nation.
"It recognises our European and Aboriginal heritage that is committed to our future."
Temora's internationally acclaimed artist Craig Giles and Temora High School provided the entertainment.
The shire welcomed no new citizens this year.
TUMUT celebrated Australia Day with four ceremonies across the shire.
Australia Day ambassador, Commonwealth Games and world champion rifle shooter Warren Potent, delivered an address at Stockwell Gardens after a breakfast provided by the Rotary Club.
Tony Butler was named Tumut's citizen of the year for his work as a senior agricultural and primary industry teacher at Tumut High School.
He developed and co-ordinated the introduction of The Beef Cattle Show Competition in the Riverina Highlands in 1995 and was the driving force behind the Agriculture Visy Scholarship for agriculture university students introduced in 2004.
The school's cattle program was national winner of the National Australia Bank's Schools First Impact Awards in 2012.
Kate Worth took out the junior citizen of the year award as a member of the Youth Consultation Network with the organisation, Youth Action.
Tumut Rural Fire Service volunteer member Ian Smith and the Tumut Town Band were joint recipients of the service to the community award.
Tumut High School under 15 girls - basketball team was awarded sports team of the year after placing third in the NSW CHS Basketball knockout.
Melissa Dean was named senior sportsperson of the year and Aydan McMahon the junior sportsperson of the year.
Community awards were also - presented at the Batlow Memorial Park, the Adelong S&C Club, and at the Miles Franklin Park in Talbingo.
THE Rand community hosted the Urana Shire Council's 2015 Australia Day celebrations.
Managing director of Aon GRIP Solutions, Greg Donovan, gave an address as the shire's ambassador, before awards were presented.
Urana's Jenny Hearn, Rand's Leonard Kuhne and Boree Creek's Stuart Patey shared the honours of Urana Shire's citizen of the year.
Teenager Corey Hogan was named young citizen of the year as a stalwart community all-rounder, while the 2014 Boree Creek Quilt Exhibition was named community event of the year.
The national anthem closed the official ceremony, before festivities moved to the beach party at the School of Arts Hall, which featured sand, water and beach umbrellas.
MORE than 200 people converged on Carrington Park yesterday for Young Shire Council's 2015 Australia Day celebrations.
A barbecue kicked off proceedings before local author and Young Australia Day ambassador Valeria Paru delivered an address.
Various councillors and council staff announced the Australia Day awards, before a tree-planting ceremony closed festivities.
Isaac Northcott and James Cahill were joint recipients of the junior citizen of the year for their work on the Young youth council, while former mayor Gerry Bailey was named citizen of the year.
The Relay for Life Committee was named the community event of the year, while the Young Shire Band received a cultural award.
Jessica McInerny was the senior sportsperson of the year and Matt Murray the junior sportsperson of the year.
Young Community Transport took out the community service organisation and Stuart Maxwell the community service individual.
Gusollio's Hair and Spa was awarded business of the year, while Julie O'Connor received the mayoral award for her extensive community involvement.
FORMER Randwick rugby legend Jeff Sayle OAM converged on Newson Park yesterday as Harden's 2015 Australia Day ambassador.
The official ceremony featured an address from Mr Sayle before the announcement of awards and a naturalisation ceremony.
Mr Sayle is a former Wallaby and has been involved with rugby union for more than 50 years.
He is currently the Randwick Rugby Club president, a position he has held for seven years.
Dorothy Sanderson was named Harden's citizen of the year.
Cathy Sanderson, Karen Tansull and Deidre Farrell shared a town care award.
Carol Fisher and Margaret Thornhill received a community involvement award and La'Reine Deal a community service award.
CONCERTMASTER and violinist Donald Hazelwood addressed the Carrathool Shire's Australia Day celebrations as its 2015 ambassador at the Merriwagga Community Hall.
Violinist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for 45 years, including 33 years as Concertmaster, Mr Hazelwood also tours with the Austral quartet and the Hazelwood Trio, which has taken him to centres of music all over the world.
He presently performs in chamber music groups, The Australian Trio and Pini, Hazelwood & Friends.
Mr Hazelwood was given an Order of the British Empire in 1976 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988.
The Rankins Springs Birds of the Bush Festival was named the community event of the year, while the Hillston Creative Arts Council was named group of the year.
The Rankins Springs swimming relay team claimed the sub-junior sportsperson of the year, while Monique Star was named junior sportsperson of the year for her contribution to soccer.
Violet Wray was the shire's citizen of the year and Penny Black the citizen of the year.
INTERNATIONALLY renowned chef Lyndey Milan assisted with Griffith City Council's Australia Day celebrations yesterday.
The celebrations included a 7am traditional Australia Day breakfast at Pioneer Park Museum, the Citizenship Ceremony and Australia Day Awards at Woodside Hall at the Griffith Showgrounds.
The Griffith City Band provided entertainment, while the Griffith Branch of Soroptimist International served morning tea.
Ms Milan was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2014 for her services to the hospitality, food and wine industries.
As the author of nine books, she is a home-cook hero and a familiar face on morning TV shows as well as host of her own shows on various networks.
Her profile also extends throughout the world as she has worked with other famous international chefs such as Rick Stein, Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver.
Michelle Bordignon was named Griffith's citizen of the year, Emily Adamson the junior citizen of the year and Sarah Davis young citizen of the year.
Steve McLean claimed the senior sportsperson of the year, while Eliza Ammendolia was named both the junior and overall sportsperson of the year.
The under 13 Griffith Soccer Club team took out sports team of the year and Trevor Harrison the club person of the year.
Real Juice Company Citrus Sculptures claimed the community of the year.
THE man behind the rescue of miracle survivor Stuart Diver in the Thredbo landslide of 1997 travelled across Narrandera Shire as the 2015 Australia Day ambassador.
Paul Featherstone, an ambulance specialty casualty access team paramedic, delivered a morning address at the official ceremony and thanksgiving service at Narrandera Park yesterday after a Lions Club breakfast.
Mr Featherstone emerged from the crush of concrete and rock second behind miracle survivor Stuart Diver at Thredbo in 1997.
Barbara Bryon was named citizen of the year for her contribution to the rodeo and the John O'Brien Festival.
Hayley Galvin was the young citizen of the year and Tom Manning the senior citizen of the year.
The Community Radio Spirit FM 99.1 and the Barellan Aged Care Project were joint winners of the community organisation of the year.
Yabby races entertained the crowd at the Narrandera Hotel's Top Pub, before a DJ and coin toss demanded attention at Lake Talbot Swimming Complex.
Other celebrations across the shire included a flag-raising ceremony, poetry recitals and a damper-making contest at Barellan, alongside a barbecue breakfast at Grong Grong Park.