Thirteen members of the Hilltops community will become Australian citizens today.
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Hilltops Council Brian Ingram in his councillor column last week said it was an honour to officiate citizenship ceremonies.
"This Australia Day we will be hosting a citizenship ceremony in Young where 13 members of the Hilltops community will become Australian citizens. It is both an honour and privilege to officiate citizenship ceremonies and there is something extra special about ceremonies that are held on Australia Day," mayor Brian Ingram said.
Young's Australia Day ambassador is former Australian cricketer Geoff Lawson, who first represented Australia in 1979.
He captained NSW from midway through the 1988-89 season until his retirement in 1991-92.
After playing, Lawson moved into coaching, he coached NSW, coached at the University of New South Wales and coached Pakistan.
In 1990, Geoff was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for services to cricket and in 2002 the Australian Sports Medal.
Just recently he has added the Centenary Medal for services to the community through sport, to his list of achievements.
Since retirement, he has been a part of commentary teams and has written columns and features for cricket magazines.
The ceremony will commence at 9.30am with the Acknowledgement of Country by Isabel Newham-Clarke, followed by a welcome by Hilltops Council, the Citizenship Ceremony and Australian Affirmation Ceremony.
This will be followed by the introduction of Lawson.
The Australia Day Award announcements and presentations of Business Award, Junior Citizen and Citizen of the Year will then take place.
Meanwhile, radio broadcaster, television gardening presenter and author, Graham Ross will attend both the Harden and Wombat Australia Day events.
In Wombat village an Australia Day event organised by the Wombat Progress Association will be held at Wagenbah Oval from 10am.
The official program will include the presentation of Wombatian Citizen
of the Year (senior and junior), Wombat Sports Person of the Year (senior and junior) and Environment Achievement Award (senior and junior).
The event also has a big line up of other attractions, including a tractor pull, antique engine display, vintage cars, best dressed Australiana, market stalls, free sausage sizzle and best decorated bike award.
Radio broadcaster and television gardening presenter and author, Graham Ross, has educated, entertained, and inspired Australia's gardening community and green thumbs over his career.
Graham has appeared on Better Homes and Gardens since 1995, and was presented with the prestigious Gold Veitch Memorial Medal in London in 2011 by the Royal Horticultural Society, he was awarded the Golden Wattle Award in 2014 - the highest accolade presented by the Australian Institute of Horticulture.
Graham has worked in all aspects in the garden, from a seedsman to park superintendent before returning to TAFE to teach horticulture.
Wombat schedule:
- 10am: All day activities tractor pull, markets, sausage sizzle, raffle, antique engines, vintage cars, art exhibition
- 12 noon: Kids decorated bike
- 12:30pm: Awards presentation, citizens awards, sports awards
Young schedule:
- 9.30am: Australia Day Official Ceremony, Acknowledgement of Country by Isabel Newham-Clarke, Welcome by Hilltops Council, Citizenship Ceremony and Australian Affirmation Ceremony, Introduction of Australia Day Ambassador Geoff Lawson, Australia Day Award announcements and presentations of Business Award, Junior Citizen & Citizen of the Year
- Free entry Young Aquatic Centre all day
- Junior cricket match at Cranfield at 9am followed by a senior cricket match
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