Australia Day

Join a family-friendly community event to acknowledge Australia Day – Survival Day in Mount Alexander Shire.

This event will include a Welcome to Country, a Citizenship and Australia Day Awards ceremony, and entertainment with local and special guests in attendance. Uncle Rick Nelson will be the MC of this part of the celebrations. Food and drink will also be available.

When: Wednesday 26 January 2022, 10am –1.30pm
Where: Victory Park – 30 Mostyn Street, Castlemaine

This is a COVID safe event. All attendees will be required to check in and show proof of full vaccination. This is a waste wise event. BYO bottles and cups.

This event will live steamed on the Mount Alexander Shire Council YouTube channel.

Nominations for the 2022 Australia Day Awards are now closed. The categories are:

- Citizen of the Year
- Senior Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year
- Event of the Year (includes online events).

Nominees must live in Mount Alexander Shire, be an Australian citizen and have given outstanding service to the local community over a number of years. The Young Citizen of the Year must be under 25 years of age on 26 January 2022 and the Senior Citizen of the Year must be aged over 65 years.

Council held a community event to welcome new Australian citizens and announce winners of the Mount Alexander Shire Australia Day Awards.

Congratulations to year’s winners of the Mount Alexander Shire Australia Day Awards:

• Citizen of the Year – Ian Gallagher
• Senior Citizen of the Year – Lorraine le Plastrier
• Young Citizen of the Year – Jade Bujeya
• Community Event of the Year – The Castlemaine Rotary Truck Show. Award accepted by President Christine Barkla.

Entertainment was provided by the Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band and the Rotary Club of Castlemaine provided a free BBQ lunch.

Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson performed a Welcome to Country at the community event.

Read our media release announcing the award winners.

Dawn smoking ceremony - Survival Day

Council worked in partnership with our First Nations community to hold a virtual Survival Day dawn smoking ceremony at Leanganook (Mount Alexander), which was live streamed via YouTube. The ceremony was planned to provide a more inclusive and holistic approach to the day, with the hope it provided an opportunity for unity within the community.

Online videos

Broadcasts of both events are available on Council's YouTube channel.

Community event: bit.ly/AusDaySurvivalDayEvent
Dawn Survival Day smoking ceremony: bit.ly/AusDaySurvivalDayDawn