Celebrating Australia Day on the Tablelands

The Australia Day spirit will be well and truly alive across the Tablelands region on 26 January when celebrations take place in a number of communities.

Tablelands Regional Council will host the Regional Australia Day event at the Atherton International Club from 4pm on Thursday 26 January.

The event will feature:

• the announcement of the Regional Australia Day Awards
• a display of the "Faces and Places of the Tablelands" Photo Competition and the announcement of winners of the competition
• the winners of the Creative Writing and Creative Drawing competition
• a Citizenship Ceremony; and,
• live entertainment.

The official proceedings will also include special guest speaker, Kevin Wadley who will talk about overseas charity projects he is involved with.

Other centres around the Tablelands are hosting their own events, sponsored by Council. Here is a brief rundown of what's happening:

Ravenshoe

Ravenshoe will be celebrating with a social cricket match of "Dairy Farmers against Potato Growers" to be staged on the second oval of the Ravenshoe High School. There will be a sausage sizzle, children's entertainment and wet canteen. Event kicks off at 10am. For further information call Bert Wilson on 4097 6421.

Mt Garnet

Celebrating with Australia Day in the Park - starting at 6pm at Anniversary Park and featuring a free sausage sizzle, presentation of certificates to quiet achievers in the community, showing of an outdoor film (weather dependent) or indoor at the school's hall, and a damper competition. For further information, call Pat Wilson on 4097 9083.

Herberton

From 7.30am, an Australian Breakfast will be held behind the QCWA Hall, with Billy tea and damper, a sausage sizzle, bacon and eggs, bush poetry and singing. For information: Robbie on 4096 3267.

Yungaburra

From 10am to 1pm, there will be an “Australia Day Brunch" which will be held at the Rec Shed, Memorial Park, Yungaburra. Family entertainment and activities are planned and a BBQ brunch, tea and coffee will be available from 10 am onwards. This event is being subsidised by the YCA and TRC, however, a gold coin donation to help cover some of the costs would be appreciated. Come dressed in an Aussie hat or outfit and you may win a prize under the categories - “Best Aussie Hat” or “Best Aussie Outfit” - and a prize for the “Best Decorated Bike or Scooter”. For further information email Annie at corkies6 [at] bigpond [dot] com or call her on 4095 3431.

Millaa Millaa

It will be "Australia Day in the Park" at Millaa Millaa, with activities to start in Lions Park at 10am. The event will feature a free sausage sizzle, soft drinks and chips. There will be heaps of fun for the family, with a tug-o-war, face painting, three-legged race, sack races and fun games like cricket, tipsy and gumboot throwing, and giveaways. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a chair. The event is being hosted by the Millaa Millaa Chamber of Commerce and the Millaa Millaa Lions Club. Inquiries to Pat Reynolds 0438 965 440, Dora on 4097 2250 or Robyn on 4097 2247.

Innot Hot Springs

It will be all happening at the Innot Hot Springs Hotel/Motel on Australia Day from about 12.30pm. The annual Man and Woman of the Mountain contest will be on again, with competitors expected to drag a tyre up the hill, roll a keg, drink a hot beer and eat a cold pie! There will also be a Spit the Dummy contest and thong-throwing. A sausage sizzle and live music will be on offer during the afternoon. For further information, call Wayne on 4097 0158.