Australia Day celebrations across the Southern Downs

Southern Downs residents are being urged to show their Aussie spirit and join in local community celebrations this Australia Day, January 26.
With the public holiday mid week, Southern Downs Regional Mayor Ron Bellingham is encouraging residents to rally neighbours and friends along to local celebrations in Warwick, Stanthorpe and Killarney to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and activities typified by life in Australia.
Warwick’s celebrations will again be held in Victoria Park, across from the Warwick Hospital.
Event organiser Tracy Vellacott said that a positive from last year’s disastrous flooding in the Queens Park precinct was the discovery of just how well the Australia Day celebrations sat within the relaxed Victoria Park environment.
“It’s wonderful to be able to run this event in a park that doesn’t generally see too much action,” she said.
“We have a fantastic afternoon of musical entertainment planned and of course the celebrations will be capped off by a brilliant fireworks display by council pyrotechnician Brian Weeks.”
Victoria Park celebrations get under way from 4pm, where Lions and Rotary Club members will have the barbecue and hot chips fired up. The audience will enjoy entertainment from local performers and a free jumping castle, face painting and an animal nursery will keep the children smiling.
Later in the evening, the official ceremony will take place including the swearing in of new citizens and presentation of Warwick’s Australia Day Awards, culminating in the much anticipated fireworks display.
Cr Bellingham said he is looking forward to sharing his last official Australia Day celebration with huge crowds in both Stanthorpe and Warwick.
“In the last 12 months our spirit has been tested but I believe this is the day to reflect on what we have achieved, what we can be proud of and a day for us to commit to making Australia an even better place for the future,” he said.
Highly honoured academic, Professor Joseph (Joe) Baker AO OBE FTSE MSc PhD DSc (Hon) FRACIC.Chem will attend Warwick celebrations as guest speaker of the Woolworths Ambassador Program, whilst gardening media personality Colin Campbell will attend Stanthorpe celebrations. The Woolworths Ambassador Program sponsors high achieving Queenslanders like Prof Baker and Colin Campbell around the state to help communities throughout Queensland celebrate Australia Day.
Stanthorpe celebrations, which begin at 2.30pm, will take on a truly Australian flavour with a pie-eating competition and a billy boiling championship. Partygoers can also marvel at the wood chopping and chainsaw ripping events.
Stanthorpe’s official ceremony mid afternoon will also include the swearing in of new Australian citizens and the presentation of Australia Day Awards from the southern part of the region. Food stalls will operate on the day.
The Killarney Lions Club will host Australia Day Celebrations and Awards presentations, starting the day with a barbecue breakfast with billy tea and damper in Pat Bush Bicentennial Park.
Entertainment includes an Aussie talent quest.
For further information on any Australia Day celebrations, contact Warwick Tourism & Events CEO Tracy Vellacott on (07) 4661 9073 or email info@warwickevents.com