Festive fun on Australia Day

Australia Day will be celebrated with a variety of activities at Middleton Beach.

Presented by Act-Belong-Commit, Thursday’s program kicks off at 7am with a Big Breakfast at Eyre Park, hosted by Albany Rotary Club, which will prepare a variety of delicious food.

To start the day with exercise instead, the Men’s Resource Centre HBF Fun Run will begin at Middleton Beach, or alternatively, hit the water with stand-up paddle boarding from SUPlime.

Middleton Beach will be a hive of activity in the afternoon, with the annual Australia Day Festival featuring a variety of fun activities including Frisbee golf, bubble soccer, archery tag, hover ball, and a bouncy castle.

From noon, opportunities to explore Albany’s unique heritage will be on offer with tours from Poornarti Aboriginal Tours and Historian Dr Murray Arnold.

Chill out from 3pm with Beats on the Beach or relax with Tola Wellbeing, which will be offering Sunset Yoga on the beach at 4pm.

Cinema under the Stars will start at 7pm and will screen Oddball, the true story about an eccentric chicken farmer who trains his mischievous dog to protect an island penguin sanctuary.

Food and drink will be on offer throughout the day, with local food businesses also open for trading.

The Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Awards will be held at the City of Albany Civic Rooms on North Road at 9am.

A list of award nominees can be seen at albany.wa.gov.au. Australia Day at Middleton Beach is sponsored by Act-Belong-Commit, Healthway, Lotterywest, Great Southern Weekender, Triple M and Hit FM. More information on Albany’s Australia Day events can be found on Facebook @CityofAlbanyEv ents or at albany.wa.gov.au.