General News
3 February, 2025
Community reflects on Australia Day
The Dimboola community banded together for another year to reflect, respect and celebrate being Australian during the town's Australia Day ceremony in Library Garden.
Host Dimboola Country Women's Association (CWA) put on a delicious morning tea at 10.30am before the ceremony commenced just after 11am.
The event was opened by Dimboola CWA member Mandy Myers speaking about the day.
"We come together today to celebrate our national day," Ms Myers said.
"We have been through a bit this year with wild weather and bushfires very close to home.
"In typical Aussie style we came together as one, helped each other where we could and looked after neighbours, friends and family.
"This is why I love being an Australian and why I love Australia."
Hindmarsh mayor Ron Ismay addressed the crowd, saying that Australia Day could be different for everyone.
"For many people, Australia Day is a complex and sensitive day," Cr Ismay said.
"For some it is a day to celebrate, while others it is a day for deep reflection.
"However, it is a day for all Australians to embrace understanding and inclusivity and be reminded of the common bond we share to be connected to by a desire for unity and the promise of safety, stability and prosperity.
"Australia Day is a day to reflect, respect and celebrate being part of our nation's story and diverse community."
This year's guest speaker was David Jochinke, president of National Farmers' Federation.
"Australia as a nation is a land of made up of many different beliefs, many different histories, many different cultures that have come together," Mr Jochinke said.
"It is us celebrating the fact that we have such a rich context to be Australian and we are very unique in the fact of that multiculturalism.
"We are very unique in where we are placed on the globe, and also very unique in that we have some of the best ability to live our lives in any nation.
"My grandpa used to always say 'You should be the community you want'.
"So if you want a friendly community, you should be friendly.
"If you want a community that is proud of their town, you should be proud of your town and do something about it."
Dimboola Memorial Secondary College's (DMSC) school captains Liam Campbell and Marcel Badua shared why they were proud to call Australia home.
"I'm proud to live in a country where mateship is a core value," Liam said.
"We all have a way of coming together, supporting one another and finding humor even in tough times, which is why, no matter what, someone always has your back, which is the true Aussie spirit."
Marcel touched on what a typical Australia Day looked like for him and his family.
"Australia Day means going down to the Jeparit Australia Day breakfast service with my friends and family," he said.
"We would then usually make plans to go to the river for a swim.
"Someone would normally put a boat in and we would fish and ski all afternoon before a light barbecue for tea, watching the sunset on the banks of our river together – a usual occurrence during our summer months and something that is so simple, perfect and everyday life for us,.
"We are very lucky."
