Ceremonies galore

LOCALS will be able to wave the Australian flag proudly at various towns throughout the Cardinia S
They will be able to sing the national anthem and enjoy a hot snag in Pakenham, Cockatoo, Kooweerup and Lang Lang.
Celebrations begin in the Lang Lang Hall from 7.45am with a community breakfast complete with country music entertainment, followed by the Lang Lang Cubs and Scouts hoisting the Australian flag, a full program of celebration, awards and Australia Day Ambassador businessman Doug Christie’s speech.
At Cockatoo’s Alma Treloar Reserve, locals will serve up sausages and pancakes for breakfast from 8.30am before the official welcome and local Australia Day Awards.
Eggs and bacon are on the breakfast menu at the Kooweerup Community Centre at 8.30am before the flag unfurls to the sound of the Kooweerup Secondary College Band, entertainment, awards and Australia Day Ambassador entrepreneur Sally Browne’s speech, and lamingtons for morning tea.
Sausages will be on offer at the community barbecue at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham after the Australia Day Awards, citizenship ceremony and Australia Day ambassador former Test cricketer Paul Sheahan’s speech.
Families can also enjoy a host of activities including face painting, an animal farm, free barbecue and a Landcare display with native plant giveaways at Pakenham from 11am to 2pm.
Cardinia Shire’s community Australia Day Awards, which pay tribute to outstanding citizens and events, will be announced at the Pakenham celebrations, honouring the shire’s Citizen of the Year, Senior Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Event of the Year and Community Service Award.
New citizens will be welcomed in a citizenship ceremony at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.