Winners of the 2012 Australia Day Community Awards are...
Tonight, (January 22 2012) some of Gosford City’s finest were recognised at the Australia Day Community Awards in a ceremony at The Laycock Street Community Theatre.

In all, 52 citizens were nominated for a Community Award across the nine categories on offer.

This year, local school teacher from St Edwards College, Mr Patrick Dell was named Citizen of the Year for his continued advocacy for social justice and volunteer work for countless organisations.
In a ceremony celebrating those achieving great things in our community, audiences enjoyed entertainment from Youth in Performing Art (YIPA) students, with Gosford City Town Crier, Stephen Clarke as Master of Ceremonies.

Winners of the 2012 Gosford City Australia Day Community Awards are;

2012 Citizen of the Year- Patrick Dell
Arts Culture and Entertainment - Jocelyn Maughan
Business - Dr Katie Dixon
Community Event - 5 Lands Walk
Environment - William Fortier
Senior - Ros Greener
Sport - Rachelle King
Volunteer (Organisation) - St Joseph’s Workshop
Volunteer (Individual) - Brianna Shaw
Youth - Steve Robson

AUSTRALIA DAY - 26th JANUARY:
Nationally there is something happening somewhere and everywhere throughout this great land of ours to celebrate this day.
Here on the beautiful Central Coast of NSW there is so much to celebrate and many ways to do so. The following are just a few....

CANTON BEACH FORESHORE:
Australia Day Eve Celebrations - Canton Beach Foreshore
Date: Wednesday 25th January, 2012

Join us to celebrate Australia Day on the Canton Beach foreshore from 4.30pm on Wednesday 25th January for the annual Australia Day Eve Celebrations.

There will be live entertainment from Open Fire throughout the evening with an Aussie flavour. Free Pony rides for the kids, farm animals to feed, lamington making, stalls, amusement rides and much more. The official flag raising ceremony will be at 6.30pm and this year’s Australia Day Ambassador gardening guru Graham Ross will be appearing.

The celebrations conclude with a spectacular fireworks display over Tuggerah Lake. So bring along chairs, rugs and the family for all the fun and entertainment from 4.30pm Australia Day Eve.

Proudly brought to you by Greater Toukley Vision and sponsored by Wyong Shire Council and Star 104.5FM For further information please visit the WEBSITE or call 4397 1711.

THE FIREWORKS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER

EVERGLADES COUNTRY CLUB:
Thursday January 26th 2012
DRESS: Australian Theme (Mufti)
TIME: 12.30 pm LUNCH 1.00pm Bowls
ENTRY FEE: $8 per Person
BBQ: $2 Sausage Sizzle
Free live entertainment from Peter Kinch between 3 - 6 pm.

GOSFORD CITY, WOY WOY AND WAGSTAFFE:
Celebrate Australia Day in Gosford with events in three locations across the area.

The outdoor activities at Gosford have been cancelled due to the weather - so far Wagstaffe is still going ahead. For more information see the GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE

What’s happening on Australia Day?
Wagstaffe, Gosford and Woy Woy activities for 2012:
Join in the fun this Australia Day on Thursday 26 January with celebrations taking place across Gosford City.

With the Australia Day theme for 2012 Make Your Mark Australia, people are encouraged to think about how they will make their mark on our great nation.

Mayor of Gosford City, Clr Laurie Maher, Gosford Australia Day Committee Chairperson, Clr Jim Macfadyen and Australia Day Ambassador, Ms Judy Stone AM will attend all three official ceremonies at Wagstaffe, Gosford and Woy Woy.

Wagstaffe will host an official ceremony with guest speakers, light entertainment and a flag raising, followed by Breakfast by the Bay between 8am – 10.30am.

Gosford Waterfront comes alive between 8am – 1pm with a variety of activities and entertainment. Get there early for your free Aussie breakfast (between 8 – 9am) and watch the decorated vessels taking part in Gosford Sailing Club’s Sail Past at 10.30am.
The waterfront will also host the Great Aussie Raft Race at 11am, so if you’re not entering a raft, make sure you’re on hand to watch them take the lead or sink to the bottom!
Live entertainment at Gosford includes finalists from the inaugural Gosford’s Got Talent competition, cultural presentations and the official ceremony at 12pm featuring Gosford City’s 2012 Australia Day Ambassador, Judy Stone AM.
How far can you throw a thong? How strong are you and your friends? Put yourself to the test and take part in the Thong Throwing or Tug-o-War competitions being coordinated by Apex.

There is plenty to keep the kids occupied at Gosford with face painting, hand printing, amusement rides, colouring in, a petting zoo and more.
Gosford will also feature a range of market and food stalls and displays including the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Woy Woy continues the festivities from 4pm with children’s activities taking place in the CWA Hall until 6pm including a colouring in competition, face painting, games and hand printing.

An acoustic stage in Memorial Park will feature a variety of blues and folk music. The Park will also light up with a display of hand held lanterns made by children taking part in the Summer in the City workshops, accompanied by a drumming circle.

Entertainment on the main stage (The Boulevarde) commences at 4pm with a range of local acts, an official ceremony at 6pm and feature acts such as the Duelling Pianos and the 5 Lands Band, which all lead up to the spectacular fireworks display at 9.15pm, accompanied by a live soundtrack from Star 104.5FM.

Mayor of Gosford City, Clr Laurie Maher says the annual celebration is a great day for Gosford to let its community spirit shine.
“Celebrating Australia Day with us at Wagstaffe, Gosford and Woy Woy is a wonderful opportunity for residents and visitors to the area to get together and be proud and thankful for the Australia we live in today.
“This is a jam-packed day of activities for the whole family, with everything from a sail past to thong throwing and a petting zoo.
“Make sure you visit Gosford Council’s tent at Gosford Waterfront to collect an Australian flag temporary tattoo – a popular Australia Day local tradition,” added Clr Maher.
Clr Maher says that the while it is a day to celebrate Australia and everything that makes it great, we will also be welcoming a number of new members into our community.
“We will be holding our annual Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at the Laycock Street Theatre at 9.30am which will see 108 people from 28 different countries receiving Australian citizenship,” said Clr Maher.

Gosford City Australia Day 2012 Program

For more information see the GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL WEBSITE

MUNMORAH BOWLING CLUB:
Australia Day - 26.1.12
Club Opens At 10am
* 10am-10.30am Free Lamingtons, Tea & Coffee Bookings Essential Phone 43588519
* Free Bingo 10.30am Bookings Essential Win Meat Trays & Groceries
* 12.30pm-Free Lunch For Bingo Players - Spit Roast Beef Served On A Baguette With Cherry Tomatoes, Rocket, Roasted Capsicum, Horseradish Cream Or Mustard.
* Free Entertainment For Everyone From 1pm-5pm With The Rebel Rousers Songs From The 50's,60's,70's & 80's
* Free Courtesy Coach

PEARL BEACH:
Thursday 26th January - Australia Day
Join in the fun & beach games, Live music/sausage sizzle
Venue: Beachfront
Time: 8am – 12 noon.

THE ENTRANCE WATERFRONT:
The Australia Day Activities have been cancelled due to the weather.

Bring the family down to The Entrance on Australia Day for a day full of free entertainment and fun for the whole family on both Memorial Park Stage and the Sails Stage.

The Entrance celebrates all things Australian with a variety of activities, displays, demonstrations and music to keep everyone occupied. The event kicks off at 11:00am and the Official Flag Raising Ceremony takes place at 4:30pm which includes speeches from Wyong Shire’s Mayor and the Australia Day Ambassador.

There is always an abundance of action and entertainment for the family to enjoy including the Tug of War competition, Central Coast Wood-chop Championship, Central Coast Holden Car Club Display, plus stalls in the park including face painting, amusements and rides. Including Live Music from local band Jellyfish frpm 6pm.

The biggest crowd pleaser to top the day off is always the spectacular fireworks display at 9:00pm.

Make sure you bring the entire family and join us in celebrating one of the most important days in the Australian calendar.

Download the AUSTRALIA DAY 2012 PROGRAM (PDF)

For more information please contact The Entrance Town Centre Management Office on 4333 5377

TOUKLEY GOLF CLUB:
Australia’s favourite blues players are being paid tribute on Australia Day at the Toukley Golf Club on Thursday 26 January at 12 noon.

Local blues artists The Roller Coaster Blues Band, featuring Julia Starr, will present some popular Australian blues songs which have become standards.
“ Each band member has hand picked some Australian blues artists which have inspired us over the years,” says lead singer Julia Starr.

The band released their debut album last Australia Day and plan to present a new blues song- to be released at this concert.
“Our original songs present a mix of blues and jazz styles,” said songwriter and guitarist Mark White, ‘we are really looking forward to performing our newest Australian blues songs.”

When asked which Australian blues artists have inspired the band’s own material, the list seems endless.
“Renee Geyer’s blues style has set a benchmark for blues performers in Australia,” says Starr, “so we’ve picked one of her songs to perform on Australia Day.”
“Matt Taylor’s blues presents hard-driven determination,” says bass player, David Gardiner, “What a great blues performer and harp player he is.”
“Australian Crawl’s popular blues songs can’t be ignored either. We’ll be playing our own progressive blues style songs too, to keep the audience up and dancing. It’s great fun,” says drummer Gerry Tierney.

Special guests include a poem read by local supporter Sue Berry and the national anthem, performed by the Roller Coasters.

The band hopes that Australia Day will continue to create inspiration for the community and are glad to be part of it.
“We always celebrate Australia Day by getting together to play and we love meeting new music fans,” said Ms Starr.

Bookings are advisable, to secure a table on 43961500 at the Bistro.

Families are welcome. Entry is free!