By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT, KATRINA BRANDON AND PEACE IJIYERA
AUSTRALIA Day was celebrated across the Latrobe Valley, with free community events that brought locals together.
Many enjoyed a complimentary breakfast and other activities, while also seeing community members honoured for their tireless hard work.
At the 2026 Latrobe City Australia Day Awards ceremony held at the Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, 57 new Australian citizens were welcomed into the Latrobe Valley, a supposed record amount for the region.
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester and Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron joined Latrobe City Council Mayor, Councillor Sharon Gibson and Latrobe City councillors for the proceedings.
Long-time local radio voice Julie Strini emceed the event, taking over from Barry Whitehead, who served in the role for 25 consecutive years.
Traralgon
THE smell of bacon filled the air on Australia Day in Traralgon.
Bringing together hundreds of people, the Lions Club of Traralgon hosted a giant Australia Day breakfast, accompanied by the City of Traralgon Band.
Before the event started at 9am, people were getting ready for a large breakfast cooked by the Lions Club, which featured all kinds of breakfast treats associated with the Aussie spirit.
The line for food traced from one side of the library to the end of Kay Street.
Those who lined up early took a seat along the road outside GPAC, where multiple tables were set up for people to mingle, discussing all things Australia Day.
Keeping the atmosphere nice and chill, only three speeches took place.
Latrobe City Council Deputy Mayor, Dale Harriman, welcomed everyone to sit and enjoy their food while listening to the band play on. He also highlighted the band’s worldly achievements.
“I want to thank my fellow Lions at Traralgon for putting on the barbecue,” he said.
“I want to give a big thank you to the City of Traralgon Band – they are now an international award-winning City of Traralgon Band, having just done a tour around Europe and knocking off a number of awards, including Brass Bands from the British Military and United States.”
Mr Harriman welcomed organiser Dennis Paigne to say a few words.
Mr Paigne said that he was happy to see so many people at the event and gave many thanks to all involved from sponsors of the event, the Lions Club members and the Traralgon Heart Walkers for helping the event come to fruition.
As a formality, the Air Force cadets raised the flag.
Lions Club of Traralgon President Marty Taylor was the final speaker, before the band started playing again.
To finish off, he told the group, “We (the Lions Club) welcome you to this annual event – we love doing it, not just for us but for everyone.”
As music continued to flow throughout the morning, the Traralgon Heart Foundation set off on their annual walk around town with a few others tagging along.
Morwell
PROUD Morwell residents were spoiled for choice last week, with dual Australia Day celebrations lighting up the town.
The Lions Club of Morwell ran a fantastic event in the morning out of Immigration Park, attracting locals galore for a free feed and colourful space for families.
A scavenger hunt was put on for the kids to run riot, while the local lions club was happy to report that no snag was lost off the barbecue despite gustily winds that shot through.
Morwell East Joeys, Cubs and Scouts then took to the flag pole at precisely 11am, given the honours of raising the Union Jack and Southern Cross high above while saluting from below.
While the sudden wind overload provided some trouble for organisers such as Lions Club of Morwell President Alice Foster, it did provide picturesque images as the flag flew beautifully.
Just down the road, the Italian Australian Club also ran another exceptional Australia Day Festival, attracting well over 100 people across the day.
Providing an assortment of entertainments and market stalls, the function room was jam-packed with locals checking out what was on offer.
While circling the differing stalls, the Pirotta Brothers took to the stage with some fine tunes for the passing audience.
Out the back of the Italian Australia Club, a car and bike show gave a chance for the local rev-heads to show off their fine pieces of work, which was run by the Gippsland Model Car and Bike Club.
The Morwell Bocce Club also opened the courts for the public to play for free across the duration of the Australia Day event.
Trafalgar
AUSTRALIA Day celebrations in Trafalgar this year was a “cultural experience” acknowledging the history of Australia while celebrating its future.
Held at the Trafalgar Public Hall, and hosted by Trafalgar Rotary Club, celebrations started as early as 8am and continued till around 10am with about 50 people in attendance.
While some just came for the free breakfast, others stayed and enjoyed the community spirit.
The celebrations started outside with a smoking ceremony and a Welcome to Country conducted by Kurnai Elder, Aunty Cheryl Drayton.
Back in the hall, attendees were served breakfast, courtesy of the Trafalgar Rotary Club, whilst enjoying live entertainment from husband-and-wife duo band, Jamieson Road.
Organiser from the rotary club, Michael Fozard addressed the audience explaining his approach to Australia Day this year.
“This year I just wanted to do something a little bit different. I wanted to make sure that there was a reason for us coming together as a community,” explaining the significance of
Aunty Cheryl conducting the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony.
Baw Baw Shire East Ward Councillor Brendan Kingwill was in attendance, and gave a speech highlighting the gift of community spirit.
“Today we come together as a community to reflect on who we are … where we come from,” he said.
“Australia is built on values that live out every day in communities. Fairness, resilience and the belief of giving everyone a fair go.
“Australia Day is a time to celebrate, but also a time to reflect. We can be proud of what we have achieved, honest about our history, and hopeful about our future.
“What makes Australia special is not a building or event, it’s not a land or a city, it’s the people. The people we have here in this room, in our shire, in our state, in our country.”
Judy Bishop, chairperson of the Trafalgar Citizens of the Year Committee, was then invited on stage to present awards.
Nominations were given by people in the community and judged by those who had received the award in the past.
This year’s recipient for Citizen of the Year declined the award.
“She was honoured by receiving a nomination, but she has chosen not to receive the award,” Ms Bishop said.
To close out the event, Jamieson Road led the audience in a sing-along to The Seekers’ I am Australian.
Attendees waved the Australian flag proudly as they sang loudly, “we are one, but we are many, and from all the lands on Earth we come, we’ll share a dream and sing with one voice, I am, you are, we are Australian”.
Moe
THE Lions Club of Moe and Old Gippstown Heritage Park once again hosted a thrilling Australia Day celebration.
Families and their dogs took advantage of the beautiful weather, coming together to celebrate all it means to be an Australian.
The gates opened at 8am for a free community breakfast with the Lions members cooking up a storm.
Around 500 people were presented for the raising of the Australian flag by the 1st Newborough Scouts at 9am.
Latrobe City Moe Ward Councillor Adele Pugsley welcomed the crowd, and Lions member Judy Ransom-James announced the Australia Day Award winner.
The Moe/Newborough Senior Citizen of the Year went to Ricka Ebsworth, who was presented the honour by Lions member Rod Sharrock and Latrobe City Mayor and Newborough Ward Councillor Sharon Gibson.
Ms Ebsworth has an unrivalled volunteer resume with the Yallourn/Newborough RSL and the broader community.
For the past three to four decades, she has been an unswerving ambassador for the RSL, serving as secretary, manager, and barperson.
That also doesn’t include her countless volunteer hours visiting the sick and grieving, cleaning and maintaining grounds, continuing social contact for members, and her daily admin tasks.
Ms Ebsworth’s outstanding organisation of the annual Anzac Day event that the RSL is best known for, as well as hosting events for sporting clubs, mothers’ groups, health supporters, cadets and more are also on her list of achievements as a selfless, silent achiever and true pillar of the community.
The day was topped off with music from the 350s Blues Band, while Old Gippstown provided some Australiana with volunteers in costume and the general store being open for demonstrations at the forge with Sean the Blacksmith.
Boolarra
ANOTHER great Australia Day celebration at Railway Park in Boolarra saw around 150 people turn out to enjoy the mild weather, an egg and bacon sandwich and a chance to have a chin wag with friends they don’t run into often.
Volunteers on the barbecue started at 8am to ensure the hungry masses were very well catered for.
Locals wished to send a big thank you to members of the Boolarra Community Development Group for feeding everyone breakfast.
Eggs, bacon, sausages and vegetarian burgers were enjoyed by all.
The crowd was kept on its toes by Australiana trivia, with questions provided by Robert Franssen.
There was seven nominations for the community recognition awards.
This reflects the enthusiasm people have for being able to have their friends’ efforts formally acknowledged in front of an audience of their peers.
Once again, it was a terrific range of recipients this year, with a number of the quiet achievers acknowledged, along with a number of people who have been closely involved.
Latrobe City Budgeree Ward Councillor Leanne Potter arrived from her prior commitments at Churchill and Yinnar, and spoke of the significance of Australia Day, and the values it represents, and how these are reflected in the community and the strength of the community spirit within Boolarra.
The raising of the flag then took place.
Congratulations were had to the following recipients in recognition of their significant contribution to the Boolarra community:
- Doug Black, for his more than 20 years’ service to the Boolarra Community Development Group;
- Liz Black, for her dedication to the Boolarra Memorial Hall;
- Callus Olivier, for Boolarra community activities and town Christmas decorations;
- Juliette Olivier, for Boolarra community activities and town Christmas decorations;
- Denise Warne, for Boolarra community activities and town Christmas decorations;
Denise Schiller, for helping in the community, and; - Rhonda Keegan, for her work as grants coordinator at Boolarra Community Development Group.
