Awards, pool parties and gardens fun planned for Australia Day

Ararat Rural City Council is inviting the community to its annual Australia Day Ceremony, which include official proceedings, and garden and pool parties around the municipality on Sunday 26 January.

Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said the Council would present its Australia Day Awards and conduct a citizenship ceremony at the official Australia Day ceremony at Alexandra Oval Community Centre in Ararat from 9am, when Ararat Rural City’s Australia Day Ambassador Duncan Stalker OAM will also speak.

“Council is pleased to invite the community to the event, which includes a free barbecue breakfast cooked by the Ararat Lions Club from 9am with live music from the Ararat City Band and official proceedings from 10am,” he said.

“The Australia Day ceremony is always a great way to start the day of celebrating, and a wonderful way to recognise our hard-working residents through the presentation of the awards.”

Other Australia Day events being held on January 26 include:

Rural Pool Parties at Willaura and Lake Bolac – free entry, face painting and barbecue thanks to CGLLEN. Pools open from 2pm to 7pm. Ararat Pool and Alexandra Gardens Party – free pool entry all day (open 6am-7.30pm), free activities in the gardens including barbecue from 12pm-2pm, live music from The Double Agents 12pm-3pm, jumping castle, face painting and Something Sweet Gelato.

Ararat Rural City’s 2020 Australia Day Ambassador Duncan Stalker OAM is an educator, leader and community service contributor who has been recognised with innumerable awards.

Mr Stalker was president of the Victorian Secondary Principals’ Association and the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association, and he serves on the Order of Australia Association, Warrnambool RSL and Rotary Club of Warrnambool. Mr Stalker will be our special guest at the Council’s Australia Day Ceremony on January 26.