Above: The Lang Lang Community Singers led by Elizabeth Gregorovich and accompanied on piano by Pam Glover.By Elizabeth Lillis
THE Lang Lang community celebrated Australia Day with a community breakfast.
About 300 people gathered for the official celebrations after breakfast which included a flag raising ceremony by the Lang Lang Scouts and an address by Australia Day Ambassador MajorGeneral David McLachlan, president of the Victorian Branch of the RSL.
Australia Day awards were presented to a number of citizens and groups for their contribution to life in Lang Lang and Cardinia.
Clem Jones was named the Lang Lang Senior Citizen of the Year.
Mr Jones who migrated to Australia from Scotland as a child and served in the Australian Army during World War II was acknowledged for his involvement in the community over the past 50 years.
Mr Jones has held several positions within the Lang Lang RSL since 1957 and still serves as treasurer and appeals officer.
In accepting the award from Councillor Doug Hamilton, Mr Jones said he did not feel he was one of the movers and shakers in the Lang Lang community but just liked to do his bit.
“I just like to help out when it’s needed,” he said.
Despite the loss of an eye, Mr Jones still assists those unable to travel by taking them to medical appointments.
After the Soldiers Memorial Hall burnt down in 1996, Mr Jones got involved in the building committee for a new hall and assisted to ensure a new more suitable site was found.
He remained actively involved with the hall committee until retiring recently. He is still very active in the community and its presentation by maintaining the gardens around the cenotaph in Lang Lang and the coral gardens in the main street.
The 2006 Small Farming Victorian Field Days was awarded the community event of the year.
The field days held on 5 and 6 May 2006 were coordinated by the Kooweerup Lang Lang Rotary Club as a fundraiser to provide an aged care facility in Lang Lang.
One hundred and fifty exhibitors occupied 250 sites at the local netball pavilion and oval.
The theme of the days was small farming, education, environment, lifestyle, leisure, community building and youth activities.
The aim of the event was to hold something specific to meet the needs of the increasing number of small farm holdings in the Cardinia Shire.
Lang Lang had three award winners, who were also recognised as award winners for the Cardinia Shire.
Rochelle and Courtney Baker received Cardinia Young Citizen of the Year awards.
Lois Gardiner was named Senior Citizen of the year for the Cardinia Shire.
The Cardinia Citizen of the Year was also named as Lang Lang local Max Kneebone.
The Lang Lang Community Singers, conducted by Elizabeth Gregorovich, sung I am Australian and Waltzing Matilda with Anne Jubb leading the vocals.
The singing adding atmosphere to the community celebration.
