Burnie’s Australia Day Celebrations

Published on 21 January 2021

On January 26, Burnie City Council invite members of the community to come together to reflect, respect and celebrate – because we’re all part of the story.

Burnie’s Australia Day ceremony will be held at the Town Hall in the Burnie Arts & Function Centre on Sunday, 26 January 2020 from 10:15am.

This year we welcome Brian Ritchie, bassist of Violent Femmes, MONA Music Curator and MONA FOMA Festival Organiser as our Guest Speaker and Australia Day Ambassador.

The program includes a Citizenship Ceremony as well as the presentation of Burnie’s Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year awards.

Burnie City Council Mayor Steve Kons said “Australia Day 2021 will provide an important opportunity for the Burnie Community to reflect on the challenges of the past year, respect the sacrifices and contributions of those who responded in a time of need and celebrate being together and being Australian.

“In the past year Australia has faced immense challenges – drought, bushfire, floods and the coronavirus pandemic. Australia Day 2021 is a day for us to respect and thank the first responders and frontline workers who worked through fire, flood and pandemic to protect life and property, to support their communities and to keep our nation going.

“We reflect on the resilience of communities and the spirit of helping, giving and supporting that defines us as Australians. And we celebrate our nation’s place in the world – a proud multicultural nation built on shared values that allow us to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that other nations aspire to.

“Australia Day is also a day to reflect on our nation’s past – a history which began more than 65,000 years ago with the First Australians – the world’s oldest living culture. It is also a day on which we respect and share the stories, histories and contributions of everyday Australians, because we’re all part of the story of Australia.”

Refreshments will be provided following the ceremony, while being entertained by the Royal Australian Navy Band Tasmania. 

This is a free event and all members of our community are very welcome to attend.