Togetherness and community spirit highlighted during City of Albany Australia Day ceremony

A few hiccups in the lead-up to the City of Albany’s formal Australia Day proceedings did not stop the celebration from running smoothly on Friday morning.

A marquee on the Binalup/Middleton Beach foreshore welcomed a big crowd for the presentation of several awards and a citizenship ceremony involving 28 new Australians.

Glenda Williams welcomed the community to country.

She said there were many “different thoughts and feelings” while celebrating Australia Day and that it was a time to reflect on “what it means to be an Australian”.

“There are many whose ancestors have come before them to make a better lifestyle for their families,” she said.

“There are those who have ancestors that are still linked to the dream time — living, breathing and practising the oldest living culture that has been passed on today.

“As Australians, we must all work together to keep this great country together because if we don’t look after her, what is there for our children to look forward to?”

On his first Australia Day as Albany’s mayor, Greg Stocks reflected on his mother’s journey to Australia and Albany as a “10 Pound Pom” at 11 years of age.

He told attendees how she had camped at Binalup/Middleton Beach when she first arrived in the country before moving onto land in Elleker where she camped for 18 months while it was cleared.

“I think what Australia represents today when you look at what is happening globally in terms of conflict is a place where we can live peacefully together,” he said.

“You can talk and express with freedom your point of view, and if you don’t like people like me you can vote us out.

“We should celebrate the fact that we are Australian, and I love the fact that I am an Australian living in Albany . . . it’s the best place in the world.”

Freeman of the City of Albany, Terry Eaton addressed the ceremony after stepping into the shoes of Australia Day Ambassador Sarah Yates after she tested positive for COVID in recent days.

He talked about the importance of volunteering and the value you can add to your community by “putting a hand up”.

“Recognising volunteers through life memberships, dedicated service medals and community awards like the ones being presented today is very important to ensure these volunteers feel valued,” Mr Eaton said.

“According to the Australia Bureau of Statistics, a volunteer is worth $46/hour.

“If we had to pay our volunteers, participating in sport and so many other events would not be possible.”

Awards for Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year were all presented during the ceremony.

The inaugural Annette Knight Community Leadership Medal was also presented.

Nominees in each of the categories were announced before the winners were awarded.

The ceremony was MC’d by Peter Barr, with Jordy Morcom providing musical interludes and it finished with a performance of For Our Elders by the Moorditj Yorgas Choir.

Earlier in the day, reticulation at the Binalup/Middleton Beach foreshore came on just hours before proceedings, leaving officials rushing to mop things up, towel things down, and replace the PA system.