Orange Mayor Jason Hamling invites residents to come along to Cook Park from 8am to 1pm on Friday, 26 January to enjoy Australia Day.
Cr Hamling says Australia Day is about celebrating all the things we love about our beautiful country, with the theme ‘Reflect. Respect. Celebrate.’
“I encourage everyone to come together to celebrate the contribution every Australian makes to our nation,” Cr Hamling said.
“It’s a day to reflect on what it means to be an Australian, acknowledge our history, recognise our diversity and celebrate all the people who make our country unique.”
Orange’s 2024 Australia Day Ambassador is Joanne Taranto.
Orange’s 2024 Australia Day Ambassador is Joanne Taranto, a sustainability educator and community advocate, and the director and co-founder of social enterprise consultancy Good for the Hood. An ambassador for three years, she said she enjoyed the opportunity to visit new places.
“Australia Day is one of those days when you can gain a powerful insight into a community, especially through the awards given for volunteering and citizenship, and I hear Orange have a pretty big celebration!” Ms Taranto said.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet a few of the residents and take a look at a some of the local sustainability projects.”
The day will start with the traditional community breakfast barbecue, free for the first 600 people, courtesy of the Orange Canobolas Lions Club and Rotary Club of Orange.
Thirty-Seven new citizens from 13 Countries will become Australian citizens at the Citizenship Ceremony followed by the presentation of the Orange Australia Day Awards.
The categories for this year’s awards are:
- • Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Environmental Citizen of the Year
• Community Group of the Year
• Community Event of the Year
• Local Legend
There will also be market stalls, children’s amusements and games, a vintage car display, entertainment by the East Orange Physical Culture Club and live music by Echoes of African Music.
This year is Cook Park’s 150th birthday. Unfortunately, the Picnic in the Park celebration was cancelled due to wet weather earlier in the year.
Cr Hamling says on Australia Day we will also celebrate Cook Park’s big birthday.
“Orange will be commemorating the occasion with a birthday cake and everyone is invited.”
Council is monitoring Cook Park’s flying fox colony in the lead-up to Australia Day, which may affect the location of activities within the park.
Almost 60 people became Australian citizens at last year’s Australia day celebrations.
