By Melissa Grant
IT WAS standing room only at the Cardinia Cultural Centre on Australia Day as residents gathered to celebrate the greatness of the nation.
The shire’s biggest event included an array of entertainment and the presentation of Cardinia’s Australia Day Awards.
The day began with the raising of the flag and a rendition of the National Anthem and ended with fun-filled activities.
A record 52 nominations for individuals and groups were received for this year’s accolades.
Tynong firefighter John Glazzard was named Citizen of the Year, Bunyip’s Elma Drayton was awarded Senior Citizen of the Year, while Eugene Mackinnon from Maryknoll was given the nod for the Young Citizen of the Year Award.
The 2009 Community Event of the Year was awarded to the National Youth Week Crew, while Vince Bucello, of Cranbourne, was the winner of the shire’s inaugural Community Service Award.
The day was particularly special for seven migrants from the US, UK, Canada, Bangladesh and New Zealand who officially became Australians during a citizenship ceremony.
Former Australian Test cricketer and leading educator Paul Sheahan, the event’s Australia Day ambassador, said every citizen – new or old – should feel privileged to be Australian.
“I think we have many reasons to thank our lucky stars,” he said.
“The things that excite me about Australia is the sense of personal freedom we have to make our own futures … and the feeling that we’re all in this together.”
Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Pearson agreed.
“I always feel it is a great honour to be an Australian,” he said.
“Our children and future generations must cherish these gifts, preserve these freedoms and uphold and respect our laws and our fellow Australians.”
