REFLECT, RESPECT AND CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY ON AUSTRALIA DAY 2023
20 JANUARY, 2023
In suburbs and towns around the nations, Australians will come together on Australia Day to reflect, respect and celebrate the strength and spirit of their local communities.
Hundreds local community events will be held around the country on Australia Day 2023, with the National Australia Day Council providing funding to host over 400 events.
The Nannup Australia Day breakfast, hosted by the Shire of Nannup in collaboration with local businesses and the community, is encouraging community members to get together to reflect, respect and celebrate their local community.
An official Welcome to Country will be performed by Wardandi Cultural Custodian Mitchella Hutchins and Matriarch Elder Vivian Webb Brockman. On their recent return from the global stage, custodians Mitchella and Vivian performed at the opening of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s celebrations of indigenous languages.
They will also share their traditional body paint and Snake Dance in a workshop with the younger members of the community. A Snake Dance performance will be on show before the annual Citizen of the Year Awards.
This year’s breakfast will include a Coat of Arms breakfast with vegetarian options available. Other attractions include music by local musicians the Black Stump Project, face painting Australiana style, and free barista coffee (bring your own keep cup). All set amongst the beautiful background by the Blackwood River at Foreshore Park.
Shire President, Cr Tony Dean, said doing something Australian like getting together with family or friends or going to a local community event is what Australia Day is all about.
“Every year since 1997 the Shire of Nannup have celebrated Australian Day with a traditional breakfast. This is always followed by the Citizen of the Year Awards which highlights the great work our community do in building vibrancy through volunteering and support of one another,” he said.
This year’s event will see the culture sharing with our First Nations People. Nannup is known as the “Stopping Place” in the local Noongar language and the Blackwood River is significant for the Wardandi people as it is the place where the Pibblemen and Wardandi people came together.
NADC Chief Executive Karlie Brand the NADC received a record number of grant applications from local government authorities and community organisations to support local Australia Day events and activities, including over 170 that have collaborated with local indigenous communities to share First Nations stories, histories and perspectives, and celebrate their enduring culture.
“There are as many Australia Days as there are Australians, with each of us finding our own meaning and significance shaped by our own experience and history,” Ms Brand said.
“Australia Day is a day to reflect on our past, accept the truth of our history, respect that we all have a contribution to make to the Story of Australia and celebrate being part of a truly diverse and multicultural nation.”
ENDS
For media enquiries please contact the Shire of Nannup on 9756 1018 or email nannup@nannup.wa.gov.au