Celebrate Australia Day in the Gannawarra

Published on 10 January 2020

Residents and visitors are encouraged to celebrate Australia Day, with celebrations planned throughout the Gannawarra on Sunday, 26 January.   Community groups and organisations have planned seven gatherings on the day, ranging from community breakfasts, barbecue lunches and dinners.   “The Gannawarra is renowned for its Australia Day celebrations, with events held in settings ranging from the banks of the Murray River and Gunbower Creek to various community venues,” Mayor Lorraine Learmonth said.   “As announced recently, a high-calibre group of Australia Day Ambassadors will be in attendance at each event, providing insight into their inspiring lives.”   Celebrations will begin at Barham and Koondrook’s combined festivities, occurring at Barham’s Riverside Park at 7am, with a community breakfast and a speech from former Gannawarra Shire Council Mayor, Max Fehring AM.   Kerang residents will gather at Atkinson Park at 7.30am for a community breakfast, an Australian Citizenship ceremony and a visit from former Victorian Football League/Australian Football League player, coach and commentator, Stan Alves OAM.   A barbecue breakfast will be on offer for those in attendance at Garden Park, Cohuna from 8am, where former Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal executive director, Christine Unsworth AM will be a special guest.   Murrabit’s festivities – occurring at the Murrabit Market Lions Shelter – will also begin at 8am with a breakfast and speech from former Ambulance Victoria Chief Executive Officer, Professor Greg Sassella.   The Quambatook Memorial Hall will host a community breakfast from 8.30am, with Carers Australia president, Dr Peter Langkamp the guest speaker.   Lalbert will host a lunch at the town’s Community Park from 12 noon, with Mr Alves to be the guest speaker. Dr Langkamp will also be the special guest at Leitchville’s traditional evening barbecue dinner, which begins at the Leitchville Sporting Complex at 6.30pm.   All celebrations will feature a flag raising ceremony and recognition of Gannawarra Shire Council’s Australia Day Award winners, who will be officially recognised at a Civic Ceremony in Kerang on Wednesday, 22 January.   “I encourage all to head along to their local festivities and celebrate what it means to be an Australian,” Mayor Learmonth said.