Australia Day Celebrations
Wednesday 26 January 2022 | Livestreamed from 9am
This year’s Australia Day celebrations will be held on Wednesday 26 January 2022 and livestreamed from 9am on Ballina Shire Council’s website.
Residents are encouraged to sit back, relax, and enjoy the celebrations from the comfort of their own homes.
The day kicks off with a Welcome to Country, Citizenship Ceremony, music performance of The Seekers classic ‘I am Australian’ by locals Katie Rutledge, Dean Doyle and Narelle Harris, and the announcement of the highly anticipated Australia Day Awards.
The event will be co-hosted by Liz Ellis and Sandy Jackson. Liz is one of Australia’s elite athletes and former captain of the Australian Diamonds and Sydney Swifts netball teams. Liz is also a sports and current affairs commentator, author and mother. Sandy is a long-term MC of the Australia Day ceremony and we are delighted to have her reprising her role as co-host.
More than 30 nominations across the categories of Young Citizen, Senior Citizen, Volunteering, Sports, Arts/Cultural, Community Event, and Environment will be recognised and celebrated:
Young Citizen of the Year
Alex Chapman
Eli Carr
Kim Coupe
Senior Citizen of the Year
Barry Fiedler
Frank Hughes
Helen Lockton
Patrick Braz
Tracey Everingham-Armstrong
Volunteer of the Year
Allan Noble
Jo Parker
Maria Matthes
Sports Achievement
Bec Washington
Tyler Dogan
Veronica Silver
Arts and Cultural Award
Ali Chigwidden
Ballina and District Historical Society
Cathy Gordon
Screenworks
Sue Belsham
Community Event of the Year
10- Year Anniversary of Gift Wrapping – Scope Club of Ballina
COVID Crisis Meal Service (Cherry Street Sports Club)
COVID Crisis Meal Service (Ballina Hot Meal Centre, Cherry Street Sports Club, Rotary Club of Ballina-on Richmond, and Ballina Masonic Centre)
Social Support Program for the Elderly (Ballina Meals on Wheels)
Digital Literacy Skills Program (Dementia Inclusive Ballina Alliance)
The Battle of the Concert Bands (Resonator Music)
Starlight Super Swim Challenge (Rhian Slapp and The Boaty Boys)
Environmental Award
Ballina Kerbside Bin Collectors
Empire Vale Public School
Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond
Revive the Northern Rivers
The awards ceremony will conclude with the announcement of the 2022 Ballina Shire Citizen of the Year.
This is a COVID safe event that will be livestreamed on Council’s website and Facebook page from 9am on Wednesday 26 January. To watch the livestream and for more information visit ballina.nsw.gov.au/australiaday
