New Chapter for Australia Day Barbecue

Local community groups interested in running the annual Australia Day breakfast, or an iteration of the event, are invited to come forward to hold the Margaret River event in 2022.

The traditional Australia Day Breakfast that has been successfully run by the Margaret River Lions Club for the past twelve years has come to an end and Club President Nigel Vangucci says it’s time for another local group to step up to the plate.

“The Australia Day Brekky has been a great chance to connect with the community and acknowledge our shared history,” he said. “Now it’s time for us to make way for a new group to have a go.”

The Shire’s Director of Corporate and Community Services, James Shepherd, expressed his gratitude to the Margaret River Lions for their commitment to the event and said with the change comes an opportunity.

“While the Australia Day Barbecue has traditionally been run on the same day as the Australian Citizenship Ceremony, we acknowledge that the way in which people recognise Australia Day is shifting,” he said. “While the incoming organisers of the Margaret River event may choose to keep with tradition, we would also be supportive of a new approach.”

The Shire currently provide a contribution of $1,000 toward Australia Day events in Cowaramup and Augusta and this amount will also be available to the organiser of the Margaret River event in 2022.  In future years event organisers may also wish to apply to the Community Events grant round for additional funds.

Community group interested in running the Margaret River event will need to supply their own barbecues and equipment. Funding from the Shire can be used towards the cost of food and supplies and the group will get to retain earnings from food and drink sales on the day.

Community groups who would like the opportunity to develop an event that celebrates our shared history and cultures are encouraged to contact Coordinator of Community Planning and Development, Jason Cleary on 08 9780 5260 or email [email protected] by 5 November.

Local community groups interested in running the annual Australia Day breakfast in Margaret River are invited to come forward as the Margaret River Lions step back from the plate after an impressive 12 years. High resolution image available here.