By TOM HAYES, KATRINA BRANDON and LIAM DURKIN
LATROBE City locals gathered at Australia Day services across the region at the weekend.
Flag raising ceremonies, music and general patriotism permeated, as people took stock to acknowledge and reflect on all that makes up the ‘great southern land’.
Australia Day fell on a Sunday this year, with Monday an official public holiday.
Traralgon
MORE than 100 people joined one another at the Kay Street Gardens for Traralgon’s Australia Day morning service.
The Lions Club of Traralgon had locals well fed with a free breakfast, cooking up the classic Australian breakfast of egg and bacon sandwiches or snags in bread.
Helping out in the kitchen was Latrobe City Council Mayor, Dale Harriman and Jeeralang Ward Councillor, Joanne Campbell.
Locals could eat to tunes like ‘Waltzing Matilda’ produced by the City of Traralgon Band, which kept the vibes high all morning.
The Australian flag was raised at 9.30am by the 426 Squadron Air Force Cadets, as the City of Traralgon Band recited the Australian National Anthem.
As the formalities winded down, locals began to chat to one another or participate in the activities nearby.
On offer was the handball competition run by a few of the footballers from the Traralgon Football-Netball Club, or the Heart Foundation Heart Walk, which many people participated in from 10am.
As the day progressed, numbers flocked to Traralgon Centre Plaza (TCP), which hosted pony rides, an educational wildlife experience from Mumsupials and Sons, as well as craft activities.
TCP was a hive of activity the day prior (Saturday, January 25), with another animal and reptile farm and craft station, plus face painting, adventure activities with Girl Guides and Traralgon Scouts. Music was provided by Mel Pollard, and the Traralgon RSL cooked up a sausage sizzle while Baker’s Delight offered free Cheesymite Scrolls.
Morwell
WALKING through Morwell’s Italian Australian Club on Australia Day was almost impossible, as more than 100 people were in attendance.
The celebrations started at 11am, and people were ready to celebrate before the doors opened.
Inside the club was a market featuring bags, wooden ducks and jewellery. Music played throughout the hall by the Pirotta Brothers.
Outside, people brought in their favourite cars, which were polished and cleaned. Some owners opened the hoods and set up Australia Day themes in the backseats. For most of the celebration, you could see people chatting about the cars and some enjoying catching up with friends.
The local bocce club also opened their doors for come-and-try bocce, with many showing off their natural skill and enjoying the indoor cooling provided as the day became warmer.
Along with the heat, a special guest visited the outdoor area with their pet python. Many attempted to hold the slithery creature, while others kept their distance.
Those who stayed inside enjoyed the music while also attending the dance floor, where some taught others some groovy moves.
Moe
OLD Gippstown offered a serene setting for Moe’s Australia Day celebrations.
Seamlessly combining past and present, a healthy patronage near 100 gathered around the open museum’s rotunda for festivities and formalities.
Live music from the 350 Blues Band contributed to an overall positive vibe, amid the general mingling of attendees enjoying each other’s company.
Lions Club of Moe volunteers were on hand from dawn (the night before actually), setting up to feed the masses.
Lead Lion John Kerr emceed proceedings, while Newborough Ward Councillor, Sharon Gibson was joined by Moe Ward Councillor, Adele Pugsley.
Ebullient as ever, Cr Gibson wore a bright yellow and green arrangement, in what was her 17th Australia Day as a councillor, making for something of a master/apprentice partnership with Cr Pugsley on debut.
First Newborough Scout Group and Moe River Scott Group (two separate) stood proudly as the Australian flag was raised at 10am.
Boolarra
SNAGS, breakfast burgers and coffee were served to about 120 people at the Boolarra Australia Day service.
Bringing in a nice change from ducking under trees due to rain, many enjoyed chatting around the Railway Park entrance in the warmer weather.
To begin, the Boolarra citizens participated in Australia Day trivia while waiting for formal celebration to start. The celebration and award ceremony began around 10am.
The morning celebration was calm, allowing many locals to chat and chill in camp chairs. Alongside the comfortable seating, many people were dressed in Australia Day attire or received Australia Day flags used throughout the trivia session.
It was a fight to determine who could raise their flag first and get the answer right. Nary a question was answered wrong by the attendees, who were excited to answer, some of them answering as a group.
Many awards were given out, most of which featured leadership and hard work throughout the year. Some of the awards expressed the town’s volunteerism, with many going to those who helped out with storm damage last year.
Dashing from Churchill and Yinnar’s services, Latrobe City Budgeree Ward Councillor, Leanne Porter arrived at the service just in time for the awards to be handed out. Ms Porter expressed that Boolarra shared the highest attendance count between the towns.
After the awards, winners gathered for photos and stood tall while the national anthem played out and flags were raised.
