Your guide to Australia Day in Baw Baw.

Published on 12 January 2024

Outstanding contributions from individuals and community groups are set to be celebrated at Baw Baw Shire Council’s annual Australia Day Award Celebrations.

The Australia Day Awards honour and acknowledge individuals and groups who have made a noteworthy contribution during the year or have given outstanding service to the local community over several years. 

Recipients of the awards were selected by a designated panel, which includes the Baw Baw Shire Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The four award categories for this year’s awards are:

Baw Baw Shire local Beau Miles will attend as a guest speaker at the awards. Beau is an extreme adventurer, filmmaker, speaker and published author of the book, The Backyard Adventurer. Beau is a motivational speaker and challenges conventional ways of thinking.

Council’s Australia Day Awards Ceremony will be held at the West Gippsland Arts Centre on Wednesday 24 January.

Australia Day will see the festivities continue as Council welcomes and celebrates Baw Baw’s newest Australian Citizens at its annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony.

The ceremony marks the final step for the conferees in their journey to becoming an Australian Citizen, and sees recipients take a formal citizenship pledge before receiving their official certificate of citizenship.

Baw Baw Shire Mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe said that the citizenship ceremony is a highlight of the Australia Day celebrations, and she feels privileged to play a small role in helping Australia become a permanent home for members of our Baw Baw community.

“Becoming an Australian citizen means that you are making an ongoing commitment to Australia and our shared values, and I feel honoured to play a part in helping this happen,” the Mayor said.

“By becoming an Australian citizen, people join a unique national community.”

Following the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony, the community is invited to the Forecourt of the Arts Centre to continue the Australia Day celebrations with a free community event, which begins at 12.00pm.

The event will include live music by Meg Doherty, children’s activities and a free BBQ hosted by the Warragul Lion’s Club.

This event is one of many in a huge lineup of local activities happening across the Shire. From Aberfeldy to Drouin and many places in between, there is no shortage of entertainment this Australia Day. To find out where your closest community event is, visit: www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/AustraliaDay

To find out more about the Australia Day Awards, visit Australia Day Awards