General News
3 February, 2025
Breakfast kicks off celebration
Australia Day festivities got off to an early start in Horsham on Sunday as community members lined up for breakfast at 7am on Australia Day.
The free barbecue provided by the Rotary Club of Horsham, Rotary Club of Horsham East, Lions Club of Horsham and Lions Club of the City of Horsham was just the first of the activities offered in Sawyer Park.
A flag-raising ceremony by Horsham Girl Guides and Horsham Scouts followed before Alayna Toporzisek led the singing of the national anthem.
Horsham Rural City Council mayor Ian Ross congratulated 17 new Australians (including four children) on having taken the citizenship affirmation: Noah Dubieniec, Eh Nay Thaw Laylay, Xuan Nguyen, Maria Sandish, Nishamol Sasikuma, Swathi Sunilkumar, Sreekumaran Kalluvettimyalil, Sarang Kalluvettimyalil (8), Ismat Ara, Manashij Syed (16), Pythia Syed (4), Mahbub Syed, Maria Nomelin, William Rodas Bravo, Bryan Avory, Rachel Cripps and Addison Avory (7).
After an address by Australia Day ambassador and National Farmers' Federation president David Jochinke, Cr Ross announced the awarding of the Order of Australia Medal to Debra Lee Boutcher for service to the arts and to the community of Horsham.
Cr Ross also presented Horsham Rural City's Australia Day awards to citizen of the year Gavin Morrow, young citizen of the year Julia Hastings and community event of the year Love Your Mum (organised by Mary and Teresa Marchesini, Helen Fisher, Lee Elliot and Robyn Lardner).
Musical entertainment throughout the program was provided by Horsham Rural City Band, Horsham Pipe Band, Voices of the Wimmera and Ms Toporzisek, with Nick Wilson as the master of ceremonies.
Food trucks along the riverfront area served up a choice of lunch options.
