Community
22 January, 2025
North West gears up for a massive weekend of Australia Day events
Every council across the region will hold a celebration and awards ceremony, although the dates and times vary.
Community champions from across the North West will be put on a pedestal this weekend as councils prepare to host Australia Day events in the region.
Each shire will name its Citizen of the Year, with a raft of other top achievers to be recognised by each local government.
Numbers could vary at different celebrations this year due to the timing of Australia Day, which falls on the Sunday in the middle of a long weekend.
JULIA CREEK
McKINLAY Shire will kick off proceedings with a special celebration in Julia Creek on Friday night.
“Because it’s a long weekend we will have a lot of people taking their kids back to boarding school,” mayor Janene Fegan said.
“By having it on Friday it gives an opportunity for them to attend.
“There are some people who would rather see Australia Day celebrations be held on Australia Day, but (being on Friday) helps with the crowds.
“I think the pub (Drover’s Dog Hotel) has some celebrations planned for Australia Day.”
The Australia Day function hosted by the council will start at 6pm on Friday, Cr Fegan said, with Jay Larkins to act as the official Australia Day ambassador.
After his son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Mr Larkins became passionate about Paralympic football.
In 2006, he established the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program and today coaches more than 100 children with a disability, giving them an opportunity to engage in team sport and exercise.
Mr Larkins will also make the trip to Cloncurry on Sunday to be the ambassador for Cloncurry Shire Council’s celebrations.
CLONCURRY
DON’T have a big breakfast if you are planning on attending the Australia Day festivities in Cloncurry.
The state government’s Great Australian Bites event returns to the Curry in 2025, showcasing the best of Queensland’s homegrown produce, with live entertainment and activities for the family.
The council will also host a free barbecue in the morning ahead of the citizenship and award ceremony, to be held at 9am at the Cloncurry Community Precinct.
The Great Australian Bites will follow at 10am at the Cloncurry Shire Hall.
Also from 10am until 1pm, the shire’s two biggest mining companies, MMG and Evolution, will host a pool party at the Cloncurry Swimming Pool. There will also be a free barbecue and drinks.
In the afternoon, a community cricket competition will be held at the recreation grounds from 1.30pm.
Expect teams to be dressed to the nines with prizes on offer for those who impress judges most.
NORMANTON
CARPENTARIA Shire switches its annual Australia Day between Karumba and Normanton and it is the latter’s turn in 2025, mayor Jack Bawden said.
There will be a community barbecue in Normanton ahead of the council’s Australia Day awards that recognise the shire’s top achievers in the last 12 months.
Founder of The Coffee Club, John Lazarou, will be the Australia Day ambassador in Normanton.
“It’s great to recognise those who give back to the community,” Cr Bawden said.
“A lot of people will then go play golf or bowls in Karumba.”
RICHMOND
A FIREWORKS display will cap off Australia Day celebrations in Richmond.
Mayor John Wharton said the event would be held at the Richmond Tennis Club, allowing locals to play a bit of sport under lights.
“We’ll do the usual things like the awards for Citizen of the Year, but it’ll be pretty relaxed,” he said.
“People will play a bit of tennis, the kids can play some cricket and we’ll have darts as well.”
The council will put on a free barbecue and also announce the winners of its Christmas lights competition.
At 8pm, the sky will be lit up with fireworks.
“We normally have fireworks at the Lions and CWA Christmas function, but we couldn’t get them this year because they were totally booked up,” Cr Wharton said.
“So we had a bit of cash sitting there and thought we’d do them for Australia Day.”
BURKETOWN
THERE will be a hive of activity in the Burke Shire on Sunday.
Kicking off at 8.30am with a scavenger hunt and car rally, the official awards will be held at 9.45am in Burketown.
That will be followed by a free brunch for locals, with a cast net and lure competition rounding out the morning activities. In the evening, a trivia night will be held at the Burketown Communuty Hub.
MOUNT ISA
A CITIZENSHIP ceremony will be held at the Mount Isa Civic Centre from 9am on Sunday, allowing the region’s new Australians to become naturalised.
The city’s top citizens will also be acknowledged with the traditional Australia Day Awards, followed by a morning tea.
There will be free entry to Splashez Aquatic Centre from 10.30am, with a free sausage sizzle to be put on at noon.
Outback at Isa is also getting amongst the action, offering free short tours as part of a locals open day.
There will also be bush tucker walks and an Aussie-themed cafe menu.
Mayor Peta MacRae said Australia Day was one of the highlights of being in the job and was looking forward to returning from leave to be there on Sunday morning.
“It’s a special day for those new Australians and it’s great to recognise the people who contribute a lot to our community throughout the year,” she said.
BOULIA
A MORNING tea will be held for Boulia residents attending Sunday’s Australia Day awards, which start at 9am.
The council will name its citizen of the year at the Boulia Shire Hall.
HUGHENDEN
A COMMUNITY breakfast will be held at the Diggers Entertainment Centre in Hughenden from 8am ahead of Flinders Shire’s Australia Day awards at 9am.
Mayor Kate Peddle said she was looking forward to acknowledging some of the shire’s top achievers at the awards ceremony.