Australia Day – Survival Day

Mount Alexander Shire Council is proud to host an Australia Day – Survival Day community event on 26 January each year. The free event includes a citizenship and Australia Day Awards ceremony, a Survival Day concert, and more.

When: Monday 26 January, 10.00am to 2.00pm
Where: Victory Park, Castlemaine
Online: Watch the event live on our YouTube channel

Event details for Australia Day - Survival Day

Join a free, family-friendly community event to celebrate and acknowledge Australia Day - Survival Day in Mount Alexander Shire.

The day will include:

  • Performance by the Castlemaine Highland Pipe Band
  • Welcome to Country
  • Citizenship and awards ceremony
  • An Auslan interpreter
  • Survival Day concert
  • Free catering by local businesses, including a Castlemaine Rotary barbecue, Konjo Mama and Icecream Republic

Event details for Survival Day concert

The concert features a great range of live music performances programmed by Dja Dja Wurrung Elder Uncle Rick Nelson, who will also MC. A Nalderun Women’s Cleansing Ceremony will also take place.

Concert performances begin at 12.00pm. 

Australia Day – Survival Day 2025

The Australia Day - Survival Day 2025 event was livestreamed to YouTube on the day. Watch the recording on our YouTube channel.

Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day 2025 Castlemaine Pipe Band

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day 2025 - Nalderun Women’s Cleansing Ceremony

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day - Citizen of the Year

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025 - Event of the Year

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025 - new citizen

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025 - new citizen and Uncle Rick Nelson

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Australia Day Survival Day event 2025

Australia Day - Survival Day event 2025 - Uncle Rick Nelson

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Australia Day - Survival Day 2025 performers and winners

Council would like to say a big thank you to everyone who performed at the Survival Day concert:

  • Uncle Kutcha Edwards and Friends
  • Linc Yow Yeh and Nick Larkins
  • Tehya Makani and Jay Jarome
  • Culture Evolves
  • Mambanegra Drumming
  • Castlemaine Peace Choir
  • Nalderun Women’s Cleansing Ceremony. 
Congratulations to our 2025 Australia Day Award winners

Citizen of the Year – Rachel Stewart
Young Citizen of the Year – Thea Sydes
Senior Citizen of the Year – Trish Bowles
Event of the Year – Castlemaine Idyll 2024

You can watch past Australia Day - Survival Day events on Council's YouTube channel.

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