Month: January 2014

Mystery artist creates Gollum installation in tree at Scarborough beach park

Redcliffe locals and visitors are trying to guess how Gollum from Lord of the Rings came to make his home in a tree.

Redcliffe locals and visitors are trying to guess how Gollum from Lord of the Rings came to make his home in a tree. Source: Supplied

Film Clip: ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

https://i0.wp.com/m.wsj.net/video/20131212/121213hobbitclip/121213hobbitclip_640x360.jpg

Watch a clip The Hobbit film sequel The Desolation of Smaug, featuring Evangeline Lilly as the elf Tauriel and Orlando Bloom reprising his role as Legolas from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. (Photo/Video: Warner Bros.)

IT’S the precious attraction that has Redcliffe locals guessing … who put the sneaky creature in one of Scarborough’s old Norfolk pines?

The Herald took a call yesterday from a dad who had stumbled across the tree with his children, who were enthralled to find a door secreted into the base of the tree.

Inside through a small window is a light-up figurine of Lord of the Rings character Gollum.

Gollum hiding in a tree at Scarborough

Gollum hiding in a tree at Scarborough Source: Supplied

While Scarborough might seem like a long way from Middle Earth, businesses along Landsborough Avenue were pleased with the touch of whimsy it had brought to the seaside strip.

Century 21 Scarborough personal assistant Brent Marshall said he had noticed the lights twinkling in the tree one morning and decided to have a closer look.

“I hope council don’t get rid of it,” he said.

“It’s definitely a good tourist attraction … I just saw it and thought it looked really cool.”

Shoes on Scarborough’s Lorraine Harrison said she hadn’t seen the quirky hidey-hole yet, but was keen to shut up shop for five minutes to check it out.

“How beautiful,” she said.

“It’s wonderful, I just love all the series and it’ll be a great tourist attraction.”

Gollum tree at Scarborough

Gollum tree at Scarborough Source: Supplied

Floatin’ Fun business owner Daniel Green, who operates from Scarborough Beach every weekend, said his children had found the tree and thought it was a bit of fun.

“It looks really good,” he said.

“The kids love it.”

While everyone who discovers the hidden literary foe loves it, no-one knows who put it there.

Was it a guerilla marketing move by director Peter Jackson promoting the latest Hobbit movie, or a clever installation piece by a local artist?

Someone is stealing the flesh and blood of Catholic saints – the questions are who, and why?

Is Holy Blood the Holy Grail of the black market? The theft of a reliquary holding Pope John Paul II’s blood has launched fears of Satanism, cloning and conspiracy

Sacred stuff ... the religious relic which was stolen from a church in Italy, sparking a region-wide search involving sniffer...

Sacred stuff … the religious relic which was stolen from a church in Italy, sparking a region-wide search involving sniffer dogs and 50 police officers. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

SATANISTS? Extremists? The deepest, darkest of black markets?

Someone is stealing the flesh and blood of Catholic saints – the questions are who, and why?

This week’s theft of a tiny piece of cloth bearing Pope John Paul II’s blood, from a tiny mountaintop church, is just the most recent event in a chain of thefts stretching back millennia.

They ususally involve the taking of relics believed to be saints’ remains, with one of the most notable – and bizarre – occuring in 1983 when a relic said to be Christ’s foreskin was stolen.

Just why would anyone want to steal pieces of Catholic saints and even the messiah himself?

Theories range from secret societies in the vein of The Da Vinci Code to cloning schemes as featured in Hitler horror The Boys From Brazil. Subversive Satanists and “fringe Catholics” have also come under suspiscion.

But beneath it all may lurk a sinister black market supplying “stolen to order” artefacts to secretive cashed-up collectors.

The latest theft involves a tiny piece of cloth which was a part of the vestments worn by the Polish pope when he was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca in St Peters square in 1981. It had been donated to one of John Paul II’s favourite churches – the tiny San Pietro della Ienca on the mountain trails of Abruzzo, Italy – in 2011.

The strange part is, in these days of growing religious indifference, it is the precious gold and gems surrounding the otherwise valueless and suspect human remains which are often discarded.

Pope John Paul II is due to be declared a saint in April. Would a tuft of cloth containing a saint’s blood be far more valuable than one containing that of a mere pope …?

Perhaps the answer is contained within the stories of some of these holy keepsakes themselves.

 

Big deal ... the

Big deal … the “monstrance” containing a tiny reliquary bearing Pope John Paul II’s blood, stolen last week from San Pietro della Ienca chapel, in the Apennine mountains, near L’Aquila. Picture: AP/Associaciazione San Pietro della Ienca Source: AP

JUST WHAT IS A RELIC ANYWAY?

From hearts and heads, feet and fingers, hair and hands … religious relics are everywhere. Particularly in Italy. Since the Middle Ages it has been a requirement that all Italian Catholic? churches have at least one object of particular reverence.

Perhaps the most well-known relic is the Shroud of Turin, said to the burial cloth that wrapped Jesus when he was placed in his tomb after crucifixion.

Not only are they items of memorabilia. They are supposed to be infused with the power of God as a result of the miracles enacted by these saints – events which are subjected to Vatican investigations before being accepted by the church.

Such objects have always been objects of desire. And relics have always been a “monetised” item.

Possession of a piece of a big-name saint would guarantee a church or monastery a steady stream of pious pilgrims – all willing to pay for the experience of getting close to their superheroes. During the Middle Ages, something of a “relic-race” developed, with ever escalating claims of evermore holy discoveries. This ranged from finger bones of local religious heroes through to slithers of the “true cross” upon which Christ was crucified.

Their theft is a well-established part of the process. Poverty-stricken remote monasteries would go to extraordinary lengths to get themselves a piece of the action. More political figures would lust after the righteous authority and recruiting power of their armies if a holy object stood at the head of their men.

In both cases, if they didn’t launch raids on competing establishments to steal the objects under the guise of righteous indignation (such as in Conques, France, in 866), some would take the simpler course of action and simply make their own relics up (for example, there have been enough pieces of the True Cross to build a decent-sized boat).

It’s a tradition of relocation that appears to remain alive and well.

Relic thefts have happened all over the globe, from Los Angeles to the little Italian town of Calcata.

Here are a few objects of particularly significant reverence that have been swiped in recent times.

 

Holy blood ... was Christ's

Holy blood … was Christ’s “foreskin” (in its case, inset) stolen in 1983 for a Satanic ritual? Source: Supplied

CHRIST’S FORESKIN: The Christian messiah was born a Jew. So it follows that he would have been circumcised. What would be a bigger crowd-drawer than the leftovers of Jesus’ bris? At least a dozen churches eventually claimed to possess this intimate piece of history. Most have since been lost to the passage of time. But the Italian congregation of Calcata managed to keep hold of its piece of skin to parade through the streets every January 1 until 1983. This is when the jewelled case and its contents vanished.

 

Divine possession ... the first reliquary containing Pope John Paul II's blood to ...

Divine possession … the first reliquary containing Pope John Paul II’s blood to be stolen. Source: Supplied

POPE JOHN PAUL II’S BLOOD BOOK: Yes, the recetn clothing incident is actually the second hit on this particular pope’s holy blood. A crystal vial inlaid in a religious tome was pinched from a priest’s backpack as he travelled by train to deliver the precious object to its new home – a church north of Rome. It eventually turned up in the backpack which had been dumped in a field.

 

Broken heart ... the iron frame containing this relic was torn apart.

Broken heart … the iron frame containing this relic was torn apart. Source: Supplied

ST LAURENCE O’TOOLE’S HEART: Born about 1128 to a minor Irish noble family, he was taken hostage as a child but later allowed to enter a monastic school. He was noted as being a particularly humble man who helped ease the suffering after England invaded Ireland in 1172. His remains were stolen from a Dublin cathedral in 2012. The iron cage which protected it was pried open and the more expensive items about it left untouched.

ST ANTHONY, PATRON SAINT OF LOST CAUSES: Yes, even this saint has had his relics stolen. In 2011, a Long Beach parish in California reported its prized possession – in a 780-year-old gold-and-silver case – was missing. Unusually, and perhaps because of his particular powers, this object was found by police a few days later.

 

Papal piece ... Italian Catholics fear the relic containing Pope John Paul II's blood was stolen in order to pla...

Papal piece … Italian Catholics fear the relic containing Pope John Paul II’s blood, inset, was stolen in order to play a part in a Satanic ritual on February 1. Source: Supplied

WHO IS TAKING THEM?

The mystic-religious background of these objects has inspired fertile minds for centuries – and petty theft sounds so ordinary when the object is Christ’s foreskin or a pontiff’s blood.

So, theories abound.

Catholic news organisations are leaping to blame Satanism for such diabolic sacrilege.

The most fanciful explanations pick up where Jurassic Park left off – and speculate that the preserved DNA within these expensive cases offer the opportunity to clone people proven by the church to have had mystical powers.

Here are some of the explanations circulating at the moment.

CLONING: This conspiracy theory is nothing new. Several book postulate that the Calcata relic was stolen by the Vatican itself out of fear someone may want to clone Christ himself. Internet chat groups such as Reddit and Inagist have embraced the concept – warning of impending armies of cloned “antichrists” cooked up from the blood of Christ, popes and saints.

SATANIC CEREMONY: When it comes to the recent Pope John Paul II incident, a Catholic anti-cult organisation insists the blood was stolen for Satanic rituals. The Satanic “new year” begins February 1, they say. “This sort of sacrilege often takes place at this time of the year,” a spokesman said. It’s an idea embraced by the catholic.org website, arguing it is just the latest act of an increasingly intense “spiritual war” being raged for our souls.

EXTREMIST CATHOLICS: Not all Catholics buy the Satanic ceremony line. Instead, some fear these thefts represent the actions of marginal groups within their own church to steal holy objects to furnish their own secret “underground” churches.

HOLY-BAY? Yes, Italy’s eBay outlet has a section dedicated to the sale of religious relics. And supply of these tightly-held objects is limited – particularly because the Vatican has forbidden their sale or trade. So the opportunity to swipe a relic, particularly one that has not been officially recognised by the church, could be seen as an opportunity for fast cash. But it’s more the presence of such sale sites that demonstrates the value such objects hold in the minds of many.

BLACK MARKET: There is plenty of reason to believe that among Europe’s super rich is a clique of collectors gathering as many historic and religious relics as they can. Driving a black market reaching from the forgotten temples amid the forests of South America through to Chinese burial mounds, some of these collections have come to light. For example, in 1991 an Italian crime boss had his home raided and the missing chin of Saint Antonio was recovered.

It also ties into the idea of secret societies among the super-rich and influential, such as the Da Vinci Code-style theory that the Knights Templar still exist.

Easy ways to make Australia Day 2014 a day to remember

You can't go wrong with our easy guide to making Australia Day me...

You can’t go wrong with our easy guide to making Australia Day memorable. Source: DailyTelegraph

AUSTRALIA DAY is the day to celebrate all things true-blue, where thongs become the signature footwear and zinc replaces make up. Chloe-Lee Longhetti takes a look at what to do to celebrate our national day.

NORTH

BREAKFAST ON THE BEACH, NEWPORT BEACH

Address: Bert Payne Reserve, Newport

Cost: Free

Time: 7:30am

Contact: Pittwater Council, Phone: 9970 1111

E: pittwater_council@pittwater.nsw.gov.au

Australia Day ambassador and media personality Tracey Spicer will head down to Breakfast on the beach. It’s a fun family day out with a BBQ breaky, kids’ activities, live music and welcoming of new citizens.

18th ANNUAL AUSTRALIA DAY EVE BEERGARDEN PARTY & FIREWORKS OVER PITTWATER

Address: Newport Arms Hotel, 2 Kalinya St, Newport

Time: Entertainment from 5pm

Cost: Free

Contact: cameron_bayfield@bayfieldhotels.com.au

+612 9997 6611

The Arms will host their annual garden party at the waterfront beer garden to kick start Australia Day celebrations. It’s the best spot for the fireworks display over Pittwater at midnight.

South

SOUTH

AUSTRALIA DAY AT CRONULLA

Address: Cronulla Beach, Gerrale St, Cronulla

Time: 1pm -9pm, January 26

Cost: Free

Info: sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au

Experience live music and a great, family friendly day out at one of the South suburbs pristine beaches, Cronulla. Live entertainment from acts such as Alex Gibson and Kate Ceberano will take place and even a fireworks display to end the night.

Youngsters get together for their annual Australia Day pool party in Cronulla.

Youngsters get together for their annual Australia Day pool party in Cronulla. Source: News Limited

EAST

AUSTRALIA DAY AT WATSONS BAY BOUTIQUE HOTEL

1 Military Rd, Watsons Bay

Time: 8am

Cost: Free venue entry, race entry $25

Info: facebook.com/WatsonsBayHotel

Unwind with harbour views, a spit roast and a stand-up paddleboard race featuring man and his best friend, the loyal pooch. The day will be led by Bondi Rescue’s Terry McDermott. Every man and his dog will be there – literally.

THE BUCKET LIST BONDI AUSTRALIA DAY PARTY

The Bucket List, Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach

Time: 11am-midnight

Cost: Free

Info: thebucketlistbondi.com

The beachside bar is embracing all things Aussie to celebrate our national day, with snags, lamb, prawns and Pavlova all on the menu. Plus it’s free entry, so expect the place to be heaving with shirtless male beachgoers until well past sundown.

WEST

BIG DAY OUT

Sydney Showgrounds

Time: 11am

Cost: Like a Boss tickets $285 or GA $185

Info: bigdayout.com

If watching fireworks is not your thing, Big Day Out features an impressive line-up this year. Catch local and international acts including Flume, Arcade Fire and Pearl Jam.

Rock on at the Big Day Out.

Rock on at the Big Day Out. Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA DAY 2014 CELEBRATIONS AT SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK

Sydney Olympic Park

Time: 12pm-9pm

Cost: Free

Info: sydneyolympicpark.com.au

Six thousand people are expected to head down the free event at Sydney Olympic Park. There will be rides, food stalls, and fireworks.

SON OF A BEACH AT THE BANK HOTEL, NEWTOWN

The Bank Hotel, 324 King St, Newtown

Time: 11am

Cost: Free

Info: bankhotel.com.au

The beach comes to you at The Bank Hotel, with the beer garden set to be transformed into a makeshift beach. Enjoy the beats and a sausage as you dig your toes into the sand, that will cover the courtyard.

HARBOUR

MS AUSTRALIA DAY COLOUR DASH

Chinese Forecourt in Darling Harbour

Time: 9am

Cost: Adult Standard entry $50

Info: mscolourdash.org.au

Fancy making your Australia Day a bit more colourful? The MS Colour Dash is taking place and you’ll be covered head to toe in rainbow dust by the end of the 5km course, all the while soaking up the city views.

THE AUSTRALIA DAY SE SSIONS

Address: Bungalow 8, Sydney Harbour, 3 Lime St, Sydney

Time: 12pm Start

Cost: Free

Contact: 02 8070 2499 E info@bungalow8sydney.com

With a fresh DJ line-up, live music and fun Australian-styled activities including a pie eating competition, Bungalow 8 Australia is the place to be. All funds raised from the family-friendly day go to the Bondi Surf Club.

AUSTRALIA DAY 2014 HARBOUR CONCERT SERIES

ADDRESS: Sydney Harbour (floating stages at Blues Point, Darling Harbour and Athol Bay)

Cost: Free

TIME: 1pm

Info: australiaday.com.au

Three floating stages will host performances by our local talent, including Jessica Mauboy, Samantha Jade and Justice Crew to name a few. They’ll be singing their own songs alongside Aussie classics for the festivities.

 

Justice Crew. Picture: Sony Music

Justice Crew. Picture: Sony Music Source: Supplied

AUSTRALIA DAY AT CAFÉ DEL MAR

Cockle Bay Wharf Rooftop Terrace, 201 Sussex St Sydney

Time: 3-10pm

Cost: $25/$35 & VIP $75

Info: cafedelmar.com.au

Put your party shoes on to celebrate Australia Day at Café Del Mar, with summer tunes, flowing drinks and fireworks. Kick back with your very own daybed.

IT’S A VERITABLE FEAST OF ENTERTAINMENT

AUSTRALIA DAY CARNIVALE

Macquarie St and College St, from Bridge St to the corner of College and Park Sts including Cathedral Square. 10am- 5pm: CARnivale will showcase hundreds of veteran, vintage and classic cars, buses and trucks.

VINTAGE BUS SERVICE

Selected Sydney streets. 10.30am- 5pm: For a gold coin donation, hop aboard a vintage bus as they make their way around Sydney. The hop-on, hop-off service will operate at specially-marked bus stops along Eddy Ave and George, Bridge, Phillip and Elizabeth streets.

THE ROCKS AUSTRALIA DAY

George St, First Fleet Park and The Rocks Square, 10am- 6pm: The Rocks Australia Day is proudly presented by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. Linger in the lanes and go barefoot on the green as all the sounds and sensations of a great Australian summer come together in The Rocks precinct.

THE ROCKS MARKETS

George St, Playfair St, Jack Mundey Pl. 10am- 6pm: Shop with the feel of the sun on your face for fashion designed by the stall-holder, one-off jewellery, and original artworks and prints.

FIRST FLEET PARK STAGE

Noon- 6pm: Bare your soles to the green and your soul to the music for a sensational home-grown crop including Cloud Control, The Bamboos and Tijuana Cartel live on the Harbourside stage. Refresh with a hand-crafted beer or cider at The Rocks Brewing open-air bar.

THE ROCKS SQUARE STAGE

Noon- 6pm: Settle in for a glorious afternoon of gritty, powerful, original and fiercely independent live sounds in the square with Kira Puru & The Bruise, Ngaiire and many more.

Singers Mahalia Barnes (left) and Prinnie Stevens will be appearing at Cockle Bay.

Singers Mahalia Barnes (left) and Prinnie Stevens will be appearing at Cockle Bay. Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA DAY ON SYDNEY HARBOUR CONCERT SERIES

Cockle Bay. 6pm- 6.45pm: The Australia Day Harbour Concert series in Darling Harbour is brought to you by P&O Cruises and Destination NSW. The concert will feature live music performances by Prinnie Stevens and Mahalia Barnes on board an impressive floating stage

EASY GEORGE RELAXATION ZONE

George St. Noon-6pm: Dip a toe in a paddling pool,strike up some friendly rivalry on the games lawn, hang out at the Tiki Hut and join the caravan for the gypsy sounds of Lolo Lovina.

KARAOKE GREEN

Atherden St. Noon-6pm: Croon an Aussie favourite song at the karaoke bandstand in Atherden St, The Rocks.

DARLING HARBOUR AUSTRALIA DAY

11.30am-9.15pm: Darling Harbour Australia Day is proudly presented by Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority. There are many ways to be Australian; celebrate them in Darling Harbour.

Shannon Murphy, Isobel Cumberland, Marcus Kennedy, Lucy Keough and Luke Packer will be in the MS Colour Run at Darling Harbou...

Shannon Murphy, Isobel Cumberland, Marcus Kennedy, Lucy Keough and Luke Packer will be in the MS Colour Run at Darling Harbour. Picture: Chris Pavlich Source: News Limited

AUSTRALIA DAY MS COLOUR DASH

Chinese Garden Forecourt. 9am: Walk, skip, hop or run 5km through a rainbow of coloured dust to raise funds for people with multiple sclerosis.

ABC TRAILER

Chinese Garden Forecourt. 11am-4pm: Experience the magic of television and host your own radio broadcast in the ABC exhibition trailer.

KIDS’ STAGE

Village Green, Darling Quarter.11.30am- 4.15pm: Share giggles with the kids as Luke Carroll hosts Leo the Clown, Magic Mic and Electric Lunchbox.

THE BIG ISSUE STREET FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

Cockle Bay Wharf. Noon-2pm: Join the colour and excitement of Australia’s largest community football event with a floating football pitch.

WORLD MUSIC STAGE

Palm Grove. 12.30pm- 6pm: Sway your hips to Assyrian party music, bush punk rock, Latin sax, and Indigenous blues music.

AUSTRALIA DAY SPECTACULAR

Cockle Bay. 7pm- 9.15pm: Sit back and enjoy a stunning multimedia symphony of light and music, culminating in a spectacular fireworks extravaganza.

SAMPLE SYDNEY

Get a taste of Sydney’s major cultural institutions. australiaday.com.au

HARBOUR SHOWS TO DAZZLE, DELIGHT, IMPRESS

IT’S action stations on Sydney Harbour during Australia Day, with a host of spectacular shows to entrance everyone.

The Australia Day Sydney Harbour program, presented by P&O Cruises, begins at 7am with the arrival of P&O’s sister ships Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel. Approximately 4000 visitors will be on board the ships that will stand in the midst of the Harbour activities.

The Pacific Jewel will berth at Athol Bay and Pacific Pearl will berth at Point Piper.

There will be a fireworks display at 9.15pm from a barge between the two ships for passengers on board, nearby vessels and foreshore spectators.

WUGOLORA INDIGENOUS CEREMONY

Any vantage point with a view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 7.30am -8am.

The raising of the Aboriginal and Australian flags on the Sydney Harbour Bridge honours age-old custodial traditions and marks the start of the Australia Day celebrations across the state.

A fire will be lit at the Sydney Opera House and carried aboard the Tribal Warrior.

Bark canoes travelling from the four compass points will meet the Tribal Warrior under the Harbour Bridge.

Fire from each of the tribes will be used to smoke the Bridge as the flags are raised, commemorating our past and celebrating our future.

BODY SCIENCE GREAT AUSTRALIAN SWIM SERIES

Man O’War Steps, Farm Cove, Royal Botanic Gardens, 8.30am-10.30am.

Whether you’re a professional swimmer or in it for fun, start Australia Day with a splash at the Great Sydney Swim. Join dual Olympic and seven-time Iron Man champion Ky Hurst for the P&O Cruises 2.2km swim. There’s also the more casual Ky Hurst 750m course and 300m Junior Kids swims. For more information or to register, visit swimseries.com.au.

 

Sydney Harbour turns into a race course as the iconic Sydney Ferries head for the Harbour Bridge.

Sydney Harbour turns into a race course as the iconic Sydney Ferries head for the Harbour Bridge. Source: News Limited

FERRYTHON

Sydney Opera House, around Shark Island, and finishing under the Harbour Bridge, 11am-11.40am.

Dressed and decorated to the nines, Sydney’s beloved First Fleet ferries line up for one of Australia’s most popular free events. Come down to Sydney Harbour with your picnic basket and cheer on your favourite ferry as they carve up the Harbour and make their final dash to the finishing line under the Harbour Bridge.

NRMA BARBECUE BY THE BRIDGE

Dawes Point, Hickson Rd, 11am-3pm.

For a dress-circle view of all Harbour activities, including the Ferrython, aerial displays, Salute to Australia and the Tall Ships Race, pack a picnic rug and make your way to Dawes Point. Enjoy a great Australian barbecue and entertainment hosted by NRMA Motoring and Services.

PICNICS BY THE POINT

Foreshore Parks, 11am-2pm.

Gather at any of Sydney’s marvellous parks with a good view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House and enjoy the show being put on for you on the greatest stage in Australia. Bring your picnic rug and a hamper of favourite Aussie summer fare.

NEW: SALUTE TO AUSTRALIA

Harbour, noon-12.10pm

The Australian Army will fire a 21-gun salute at Bradfield Park, underneath Sydney’s Harbour Bridge, in the presence of dignitaries on board HMAS Choules. The climax of the tri-service salute will be an aerial display by three Royal Australian Air Force Hawks.

AUSTRALIA DAY HARBOUR PARADE

Sydney Harbour, noon-2pm

The Australia Day Harbour Parade will showcase vessels of all shapes and sizes dressed in colour, flags and bunting as they make their way in a 90-minute loop around the Harbour in a bid to take out the prize for Best Dressed Vessel. Dress your vessel and register your boat at http://www.australiaday.com.au to win.

NEW: TUG & YACHT BALLET

Central and eastern Sydney Harbour, 12.15pm-1.30pm.

The Tug & Yacht Ballet will be a dazzling choreographed display, using the central and eastern Harbour as the stage. Two agile and powerful tug boats will dance with a flotilla of yachts, from Eastsail, giving

Harbour spectators a precision sailing display, manoeuvring in unison in an amazing show of colour and movement. This is an event sure to captivate everyone.

Tall Ship will sail Sydney Harbour on Australia Day.

Tall Ship will sail Sydney Harbour on Australia Day. Source: Supplied

TALL SHIPS RACE

Bradleys Head to the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the northern side of the Harbour, 1pm-1.45pm.

Starting at Bradleys Head, Sydney’s Tall Ships will lead an impressive fleet of historic and charter vessels as they make their way up the Harbour.

NEW: AUSTRALIA DAY ON SYDNEY HARBOUR CONCERT SERIES

Blues Point Reserve, 1pm-2.30pm.

A highlight of the Australia Day program, the Harbour Concert Series, in association with Destination NSW, is a tribute to Australian music. Featuring chart-toppers Dami Im, Nathaniel Willemse, Samantha Jade, Taylor Henderson, Jessica Mauboy and Justice Crew on board an impressive floating stage.

178TH AUSTRALIA DAY REGATTA

Eastern Sydney Harbour, from 1.30pm.

The Australia Day Regatta is the world’s oldest continuous annual sailing event. Up to 100 vessels, including traditional and classic yachts from around the nation, will take part in a series of Harbour events throughout the afternoon.

NEW: TINNIE MUSTER

Athol Bay, from 2pm-6.30pm

Vessels of all shapes and sizes are invited to take part in the inaugural Tinnie Muster. Grab a snag at the barbecue barge and listen to X Factor runner-up Taylor Henderson belting out Aussie classics, plus talent from Telstra Road to Discovery.

RED BERETS AUSTRALIAN ARMY PARACHUTE DISPLAY

Circular Quay, 2pm

See the Red Berets team showcase their fast and agile skills, with streamers and smoke trailing while flying the a large Australian flag.

QANTAS A380 FLYOVER

Sydney Harbour, 12.45pm

The Qantas Flying Kangaroo is an iconic emblem. On Australia Day the Flying Kangaroo will be seen on an A380 as it flies over Sydney Harbour.

CHILDREN WILL JUST LOVE HYDE PARK

IT’S action stations on Sydney Harbour during Australia Day, with a host of spectacular shows to entrance everyone.

The Australia Day Sydney Harbour program, presented by P&O Cruises, begins at 7am with the arrival of P&O’s sister ships Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel. Approximately 4000 visitors will be on board the ships that will stand in the midst of the Harbour activities.

The Pacific Jewel will berth at Athol Bay and Pacific Pearl will berth at Point Piper.

There will be a fireworks display at 9.15pm from a barge between the two ships for passengers on board, nearby vessels and foreshore spectators.

HYDE PARK NORTH

9am-4pm: Head to Hyde Park for a feast of family fun! Summer Playground is a wonderland for kids and the young at heart, with face painting, the Colouring Corner, storytime in the Book Nook and much more.

HYDE PARK STAGE

The stage, presented by Telstra, is the best place to soak up the family fun atmosphere. MC Jimmy Giggle will take you through seven hours of free performances by a host of kids’ favourites, including The Wiggles, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Peppa Pig.

9am: Blinky Bill; 9.30am: Bob the Builder; 10am: Lord Mayor’s Citizenship Ceremony; 11am: Blinky Bill; 11.30am: Dorothy the Dinosaur; 12.30pm: Angelina Ballerina; 1pm: Peppa Pig; 1.30pm: Fireman Sam; 2pm: The Octonauts; 2.30pm: Peppa Pig; 3pm : The Wiggles.

The Wiggles will headline the Hyde Park stage on Australia Day.

The Wiggles will headline the Hyde Park stage on Australia Day. Source: Supplied

LORD MAYOR’S CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY

10am-11am: Presented by the City of Sydney, the Lord Mayor’s Citizenship Ceremony will feature the family stories of our newest citizens.

ANIMAL FARM

9am-4pm: Children will have the chance to touch, feed and play with cute furry friends in the Animal Farm.

COLOURING CORNER

9am-4pm: Situated in the shady area of Hyde Park, the Colouring Corner is a quiet spot where children can take some time out of their busy Australia Day to create some colourful artwork to take home.

THE BOOK NOOK

9am-4pm: Enter the shady tent for some fun and interactive storytime from talented children’s storytellers.

INFLATABLES

9am-4pm: Bounce around in the Cottage Jumping Castle and surf down the Big Wave Slide or bounce on the life-size Stonehenge.

FOOD COURT

9am-6pm: Experience the fresh food and beverage delights provided by some of the Sydney Food Trucks.

THANK YOU AUSTRALIA POP-UP STREET ART

Supported by Australian Unity. Hyde Park Barracks, corner Macquarie and College streets, 10am-5pm: Create your own unique message, add a photo and upload to http://www.aussievault.com.au/thankyou. Your entry will form part of a national online gallery of everyday and famous Australians – you could even win a weekend break for a family of four. To celebrate Thank You Australia, a local street artist will be crafting a ‘human collage’ mural wall featuring entries from the campaign.

Come along to Pop-up Street Art and watch the artist at work or have your picture taken at the photo booth for your chance to be included in this unique piece of street art.

Take part and share via #thankyouaustralia

ALL THE VITAL INFORMATION

• Australia Day events take place on Sunday with the public holiday on Monday.

• Enjoy the long weekend in Sydney by planning ahead and visit australiaday.com.au.

• For timetables, maps and trip planning visit transportnsw.info. Download a train or bus app from the AppStore or Google Play, or call 131 500.

• For road closures and current traffic conditions go to livetraffic.com, download the Live Traffic NSW app or call 132 701.

• For Harbour exclusion zones and further info, visit maritime.nsw.gov.au or call 131 256.

• No BYO alcohol and no glass is allowed at many Australia Day event sites. Check your local government website to familiarise yourself with where restrictions apply.

• If you do drink, do it responsibly and look after yourself, your mates and your city.

• Visit australiaday.com.au for further information on celebrations. If you can’t get to an event this year, go to aussievault.com.au.

A NOTE TO BOATIES

• A 30m exclusion zone will be in place around each of the P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl and Pacific Jewel.

There will be an exclusion zone around the Pacific Pearl and her sister ship the Pacific Jewel.

There will be an exclusion zone around the Pacific Pearl and her P&O sister ship the Pacific Jewel. Source: News Limited

• Body Science Great Australian Swim Series. Farm Cove will be closed to all vessels during the swim, from 8.30am-10.30am.

• Ferrython. A 50m exclusion zone will be in place around each competing ferry.

STAY CONNECTED

For all the latest information, go to these informative sites: australiaday.com.au; facebook.com/AustraliaDay26; twitter.com/AustraliaDay; #AusDayNSW; pinterest.com/australiaday; linkedin.com – Corporate Club Australia; Youtube.com/AustraliaDay26

THANK YOU AUSTRALIA

Proudly supported by Australian Unity.

Thank You Australia is an opportunity to express and share your gratitude for the good fortune of being an Aussie. Create your message at aussievault.com.au/thankyou

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE

ARMIDALE DUMARESQ COUNCIL

10.30am-3pm: Come and celebrate being Australian at the Armidale Racecourse this Australia Day. www.armidale.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Jim Williams

ASHFIELD MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

10am-1pm: Australia Day Awards Presentation and Citizenship Ceremony at Ashfield Civic Centre. www.ashfield.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Don Spencer OAM

AUBURN CITY COUNCIL

2pm-9pm: Australiana, Aboriginal and multicultural entertainment, sheep shearing, workshops, free amusement and pony rides, Citizenship and Awards Ceremony. www.auburn.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: James Chapman

BALRANALD SHIRE COUNCIL

8.30am-2pm: Balranald Shire will celebrate in Balranald and Euston with BBQs, Ambassador Address and Awards Ceremony. www.balranald.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Amy Wilkins

BANKSTOWN CITY COUNCIL

1pm-9pm: Visit Garrison Point, Georges Hall for great food, rides, zoo, entertainers and free concert at 4pm. Jason Singh, Superjesus, Fireworks Finale. www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Kumud Merani

BATHURST REGIONAL COUNCIL

10am-2pm: Free entry event. Live music, kids games, activities, animal farm, market stalls, face painting, National Anthem and flag raising at Machattie Park. www.bathurst.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Paula Duncan AM

BEGA VALLEY SHIRE COUNCIL

7-11am: Citizenship Ceremony, free breakfast, entertainment and activities, face painting, magician, emergency services displays and stalls. www.begavalley.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Catriona Rowntree

BELLINGEN SHIRE COUNCIL

9am-2pm: Family fun morning, free BBQ breakfast, exhibits, entertainment and kids activities. Afternoon Community Awards and Citizenship Ceremony event. www.bellingen.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Benita Collings

BLACKTOWN CITY COUNCIL

4-9.15pm: Alcohol free, family event at the Rooty Hill with Darryl Braithwaite, The Collective, cover bands and the largest flag jump in the Southern Hemisphere. www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Geoff Lawson OAM

BLAND SHIRE COUNCIL

7-9.30am: Traditional Aussie breakfast, presentation of Australia Day Awards and Australia Day Ambassador address. www.blandshire.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Valerie Parv

BLAYNEY SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-2.30pm: Free BBQ breakfast and Citizenship Ceremony at Heritage Park. Family fun including stalls, entertainment and rides at the Carcoar Australia Day Fair. www.blayney.nsw.nsw.gov.au www.carcoar.org. Ambassador: Alan Whelpton AO

BLUE MOUNTAINS CITY COUNCIL

9am-2pm: Official Ceremony, Great Australian Gnome Convention, food and market stalls, face painting, jumping castle, fun races and more at Glenbrook Park. www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Don Burke OAM

BOGAN SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-12pm: A free BBQ breakfast at the Town Hall, the Official Awards Ceremony followed by morning tea, fun activities at the Pool at 5pm with free entry all day. www.bogan.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Jeff Sayle OAM

BOMBALA SHIRE COUNCIL

9am-5pm: A combination of family events including championship shearing, wood chopping, mini triathlon and sporting activities with full catering available. www.bombala.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Jihad Dib

BOOROWA COUNCIL

8am-5pm: Apex Breakfast in the Park Official Ceremony, Community Awards, fishing competition, blessing, Rotary Rubber Duck Race, bowls, golf and balladeers. www.boorowa.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Zoe Naylor

BOURKE SHIRE COUNCIL

8-11am: Celebrate our national day with a BBQ breakfast at the Wal Mitchell Wharf Precinct followed by the Australia Day Awards Ceremony. www.bourke.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Gordon Bray AM

BREWARRINA SHIRE COUNCIL

7am-12pm: Free BBQ brekky, Best Dressed Aussie, giant waterslide, dash 4 cash, relay races, Welcome to Country and Awards Ceremony at Brewarrina Swimming Pool. www.brewarrina.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Col Hardy

BROKEN HILL CITY COUNCIL

7-11am: BBQ breakfast, Flag Raising Ceremony, Citizenship Ceremony, Australia Day Awards presentation and morning tea with the City’s Australia Day Ambassador. www.brokenhill.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Doris Younane

BURWOOD COUNCIL

10am-1pm: Citizenship Ceremony and Australia Day Awards, followed by a free BBQ, facepainting, roving performers and activities for the kids. www.burwood.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Lorrae Desmond MBE

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30-10am, 1-5pm: 7.30am Breakfast in the Park at Banner Park, Brunswick Heads; 1pm Rural Fire Service Family Fun Afternoon at Gaggin Park, Suffolk Park. www.byron.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Donny Galella

CABONNE COUNCIL

8am-8pm: Visit Cabonne for an Aussie style BBQ and Award presentations at Mullion Creek Hall. www.carbonne.nsw.gov.au. Ambassadors: Bruce Venables and Judy Nunn

CAMDEN COUNCIL

8am-1pm: Come down to Camden from 8am for free activities, BBQ breakfast, the Awards and Citizenship Ceremony finishing with the Macarthur Lions Street Parade. www.camden.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Maria Venuti AM

CAMPBELLTOWN CITY COUNCIL

8.30am-9.30pm: Campbelltown and Ingleburn Awards Ceremony will be at 8am and 11am. Enjoy free rides, entertainment, activities and a free BBQ from 4pm. www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Peter Wynn

CANTERBURY CITY COUNCIL

10am-3pm: Citizenship Ceremony at 10am, enjoy a family fun day with bands, rides, wildlife show, free BBQ and $2 mates rates entry at Canterbury Aquatic Centre. www.canterbury.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn

CARRATHOOL SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-1pm: Family fun day with an Australia Day Awards ceremony. Lunch will be provided. There will be a range of activities for the whole family. www.carrathool.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Susie Elelman

 

Planning your Australia Day celebrations can be a real lifesaver.

Planning your Australia Day celebrations can be a real lifesaver. Source: Supplied

CENTRAL DARLING SHIRE COUNCIL

10-11.30am, 3-7pm: 10am Awards Ceremony, Menindee Civic Hall; 3pm Community BBQ at Menindee Swimming Pool (free entry). www.centraldarling.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Peter McLean

CESSNOCK CITY COUNCIL

7.30am-1.30pm: BBQ Breakfast at East End Oval, a great family morning of entertainment followed by the official ceremony in East Cessnock Bowling Club. www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Krystel Keller

CITY OF CANADA BAY COUNCIL

8.30-10.30am: Invitation only-Citizenship Ceremony at Cabarita Park. www.canadabay.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Susie Maroney OAM

CITY OF RYDE COUNCIL

5-9pm: Celebrate at the Family Concert at North Ryde Common. Rides, food stalls and entertainment including a performance by Dragon and a fireworks display. www.ryde.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Dr Cindy Pan

CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL

6-9pm, Jan 23: The community awards are a very important part of Australia Day, it’s an opportunity to acknowledge and honour our local residents. www.clarence.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Craig Goozee OAM

COBAR SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-2pm: Cool off at Cobar Swimming Pool with kids’ novelty events, junior triathlon, relay races, flag raising and awards ceremony and free sausage sizzle. www.cobarmus.bigpond.com. Ambassador: Justin Melvey

COOLAMON SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-2pm: A great day for the whole family with the Coolamon Shire Awards Ceremony, old Aussie car display, face painting, entertainment and free BBQ lunch. www.coolamonshire.nsw.gov.au.
Ambassador: Anupam Sharma

COOMA-MONARO SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-2pm: BBQ Breakfasts at Cooma, Michelago, Bredbo, Numeralla and Nimmitabel. Flag raising, festivities, awards, speeches and Entertainment in Centennial Park. www.cooma.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Dr Eman Sharobeen

COONAMBLE SHIRE COUNCIL

8-11am: Join us at the Showground Pavilion to celebrate our national day with a free breakfast, family fun day and an inspiring Australia Day Ambassador. www.coonambleshire.com.au. Ambassadors: Gerry Tatrai (Coonamble), Annabelle Williams (Gulargambone)

COOTAMUNDRA SHIRE COUNCIL

8-11am: Breakfast in the Park with welcome, prayer, live music, BBQ breakfast, poetry recitals, Citizen, Young Citizen and Sportsperson of the Year Awards. www.cootamundra.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Matthew Levy

COROWA SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-7.30pm: Australia Day Ceremonies, Flag Raising, Australia Day Prayers, BBQs and entertainment in Mulwala, Howlong and Corowa. www.corowa.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Sandra Morgan-Beavis

COWRA SHIRE COUNCIL

8.30-11am: Cowra Council is pleased to host the annual Australia Day Awards at Cowra Civic Centre to showcase our local achievers. Community breakfast included. www.cowracouncil.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Dick Whittaker

DENILIQUIN COUNCIL

8am-2.30pm: Breakfast in the Park, Flag raising ceremony, Australia Day Ceremony, Address by Ambassador and Mayor, presentation of Citizen of the Year Awards. www.deniliquin.nsw.gov.au. Ambasasador: Donnie Sutherland OAM

DUBBO CITY COUNCIL

7.30-11.30am: BBQ Breakfast in Victoria Park, official Australia Day Ceremony at 8.30am, concert band, clowns, jumping castles, static displays then cool off at the pool with gold coin entry. www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Charlie Brown

DUNGOG SHIRE COUNCIL

7-9.30am: BBQ Breakfast and Australia Day Award Ceremony held at the James Theatre, Brown Street, Dungog. www.dungog.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Debbie Watson OAM

EUROBODALLA SHIRE COUNCIL

Narooma 9.30-11.30am: Enjoy a BBQ breakfast by the beach, celebrations at Narooma, Batehaven and Moruya. www.esc.nsw.gov.au. Ambassadors: Petrea King (Narooma), Allanah Zitserman (Batemans Bay and Moruya)

 

There's nothing more Australian than...

There’s nothing more Australian than a barbie. Source: DailyTelegraph

FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL

10am-4pm: Residents can take a dip for free at Fairfield and Prairiewood Leisure Centres and enjoy free entertainment including amusement rides and music. www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Shane Heal

FORBES SHIRE COUNCIL

7am-10pm: 7am breakfast at Rotary Park, 11am Family Swim at Forbes Town Pool, 5.30pm Street Parade Forbes CBD, 7pm free kids rides, live music and fireworks. www.forbes.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Max Cullen

GILGANDRA SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30-10.30am: Enjoy a great Aussie Breakfast in Hunter Park from 7.30am followed by the Australia Day Awards Ceremony. www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Cameron Kerr

GLEN INNES SEVERN COUNCIL

8am-3pm: 8am BBQ Breakfast Pinkett Sports Ground; 10.30 Showground Pavilion featuring Little Phoenix and family fun day; 12 noon Presentation of Awards. www.gisc.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: James Pittar

GLOUCESTER SHIRE COUNCIL

8-10.30am: Australia Day celebrations include a BBQ breakfast, flag raising and Awards Ceremony in the Billabong Park. www.gloucester.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Krystal Barter

GOSFORD CITY COUNCIL

8am-9.30pm: 8-10.30am Breakfast and Official Ceremony in Wagstaffe; 9am-2pm Family fun at Kibble Park; 4-9.30pm Fireworks and activities at the Woy Woy waterfront. www.gosford.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Ian Robilliard

GOULBURN MULWAREE COUNCIl

7.30am-3pm: Fun day out for the family with a free bbq breakfast, reptile show, activities, live music, food, markets, displays, Citizenship Ceremony and more. www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Bruce Elder

GOULBURN MULWAREE SHIRE COUNCIL

Marulan 8am-3pm: BBQ breakfast and family fun day in the Park. Including displays, sheep shearing and plenty of events with prizes to be won. www.goulburn.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Peter Herbert

GREAT LAKES COUNCIL

7.30am-4pm: Citizenship and Awards Ceremony, Club Forster, followed by Family Fun Day and Flag Raising, John Wright Park, Tuncurry. www.greatlakes.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Sarah Garnett

GREATER HUME SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-11.45am: Greater Hume Shire’s celebrations will be held at Burrumbuttock commencing with a free BBQ breakfast at 8am followed by an official ceremony at 9am. www.greaterhume.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Amber Lawrence

GRIFFITH CITY COUNCIL

9am-12pm: Citizenship and Awards Ceremony at the Griffith Regional Theatre at 9am and traditional Aussie breakfast at Pioneer Park Museum at 7.30am. www.griffith.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Peter Wilkins

GUNDAGAI SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-11.30am: Start Australia Day with a delicious BBQ breakfast in Carberry Park and the Awards and Citizenship Ceremonies and Ambassador’s address. www.gundagai.nsw.gov.au. Ambassdor: Catherine De Vrye

GUNNEDAH SHIRE COUNCIL

9am-7pm: Intrepid Gunnedah boaties take to the Namoi River in assorted rafts and crafts, water events, Dash for Cash, Splash for Cash and fun competitions. www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Don Hazelwood AO

GUYRA SHIRE COUNCIL

6.30pm-9.30pm, Jan 25: The Awards Dinner is our opportunity to celebrate and congratulate those who go about and beyond to contribute positively to our community. www.guyra.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: The Hon. John Watkins

GWYDIR SHIRE COUNCIL

Warialda 7.30am-100am: Free BBQ breakfast at Warialda Showground followed by the Awards Ceremony and Australia Day Ambassador Address. www.gwydirshire.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Gabrielle Clark

GWYDIR SHIRE COUNCIL – BINGARA

Bingara 8am-12pm: Community family breakfast and Ceremony in the grounds of the Historical Society Museum, then a fun afternoon of sport at the Bingara Sporting Club. www.bingara.com.au. Ambassador: Nicholas Gleeson

HARDEN SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-2pm: The day starts with a breakfast in Newson Park at 8am, followed by the presentation of awards. Festivities continue in Wombat until 2pm.. www.harden.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Libby Hathorn

HAWKESBURY CITY COUNCIL

11.30am-1.30pm: Recognise outstanding members of the Hawkebsury community at the Hawkesbury Australia Day Awards, which will be held at The Richmond Club. www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Susanne Gervay OAM

HAY SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-11am: Event commences with a flag raising ceremony and breakfast followed by awards ceremony, address from the ambassador and concludes with fun at the Pool. www.hay.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Stuart Maunder AM

HOLROYD CITY COUNCIL

10am-9pm: Come to our super cool pool party from 10am and celebrations in the park from 5pm with a wildlife show, dancers, funky DJ band, fireworks and more. www.holroyd.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Reuben Mourad

HURSTVILLE CITY COUNCIL

10am-4pm: Free live entertainment, rides, fun for kids, special guests Dora The Explorer and Boots, Little Charley Bear, Batman and Wonder Woman at Oatley Park. www.hurstville.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Dr Ross Walker

INVERELL SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-3pm: Australia Day celebrations held at Anzac Park include an Awards presentation, BBQ, displays, markets and parade featuring the Inverell Pipe Band. www.inverell.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Joseph Tawadros

 

ARIA award-winning oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros is Inverell's Australia Day am...

ARIA award-winning oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros is Inverell’s Australia Day ambassador. Source: Supplied

JUNEE SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30am-2pm: Family Fun Run starts at Junee Correctional Centre 7.30am and Official Ceremony 9.30am at Recreation Centre, followed by activities at the pool. www.junee.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: George Ellis

KEMPSEY SHIRE COUNCIL

8.15am-9.45am: Show your support by attending the Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony. Then stay on for the Saltwater Freshwater Festival. www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Dr Clio Cresswell

KIAMA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

7.30am-12pm: Celebrations in locations within the Municipality – Kiama Surf Beach; Kiama Downs Jones Beach; Gerringong Werri Beach (south), Jamberoo Reid Park. www.kiama.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Lyndey Milan

KOGARAH COUNCIL

10am-9pm: Come to Carss Bush Park from 8am to celebrate with children’s and cultural performances, Australia Day Ceremony, Matchbox Band and fireworks finale. www.kogarah.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Ingrid Willinge

KU-RING-GAI MUNICIPAL

9am-3pm: Citizenship and Awards Ceremony at 9am. Family Fun from 11am, Bicentennial Park,West Pymble. Entertainment, stalls, rides and games. www.kmc.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Kamahl AM

KYOGLE COUNCIL

Kyogle 11am-3pm: Kyogle will celebrate Australia Day with a Sunday lunch, awards presentation, citizenship ceremony, and entertainment showcasing local talent. www.kyogle.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Alex Jones

West Of The Range 10am-3pm: Lots of fun for the whole family at Mallanganee Campdraft Grounds from 10am. Street stalls, games, BBQ and Australia Day Awards Ceremony at 1.30pm. www.kyogle.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Clyde Campbell

Woodenbong 8am-5pm: Billie Tea, awards ceremony and entertainment at RSL Hall, followed by lunch at Public Hall and City v Country cricket match at the recreation ground. Ambassador: Natatlie Faber-Castell

LACHLAN SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30am-9pm: Free Aussie BBQs, Celebrations, Awards Ceremonies at Condobolin 7.30am and 5pm, Lake Cargelligo 10am, Tullibigeal 12pm, Fifield 4pm and Tottenham 6pm. www.lachlan.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Scott McGregor

LANE COVE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

10am-10pm: Citizenship Ceremony and family friendly live entertainment, a free BBQ, and televised screening of the Australian Open at Lane Cove Plaza. www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au. Ambassadors: Jonothan Coleman and Ian Rogerson

LEETON SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30am-8pm: BBQ Breakfast in Mountford Park with Official Australia Day Ceremony, followed by pool party at Leeton Pool with free entry, DJ and giveaways. www.leeton.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Peter Hadfield OAM

LISMORE CITY COUNCIL

8.30am-10.30am: Flag raising, citizenship ceremony, awards presentation, entertainment, meet and greet our Ambassador and join us for morning tea. www.lismore.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: John Clarke

LITHGOW CITY COUNCIL

11am-8pm: 11am to 3pm Aquatic Centre Family Fun Day; 4pm to 8pm Official Australia Day Ceremony, Rock Concert and Night Markets at Queen Elizabeth Park. www.council.lithgow.com. Ambassador: Jose Calarco

LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL

3pm-9pm: Citizenship Ceremony, Third Degree, Dora the Explorer, rides, entertainment, food, fireworks and more. Free entry. www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Amelia Farrugia

LIVERPOOL PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL

9.30-11am: Presentation of awards to Australia Day award winners and recipients. Lots of other events throughout the shire. www.lpsc.nsw.gov.au. Ambassdor: Penny Cook

LOCKHART SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30am-2pm: 7.30am Breakfast in Walter Day Park, Lockhart; 10.30am Official Ceremony at Lockhart Recreation Ground, followed by family fun activities and lunch. www.lockhart.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Liz Deep-Jones

MAITLAND CITY COUNCIL

7.30am-3pm: Free entry to Maitland Pool from 9am to 3pm, free barbeque breakfast from 7.30am9.30am, free face painting and amusement rides. www.maitland.nsw.gov.au

MANLY COUNCIL

8.30-11am: Australian Citizenship Ceremony and presentation of the Local Citizen of the Year Awards. <a href=”http://www.manly.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.manly.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Ron Delezio

MARRICKVILLE COUNCIL

3pm-9pm: Family picnic day with a full entertainment program, food stalls, activities, native animal show and a spectacular fireworks display. <a href=”http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/australiaday&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/australiaday</a>. Ambassador: Rhys Muldoon

MID-WESTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL

5-10pm: Rylstone Showground will host the Official Australia Day Awards Ceremony and Citizenship Ceremony along with activities for the whole family to enjoy. <a href=”http://www.midwestern.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.midwestern.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: David Bitton

MOREE PLAINS SHIRE COUNCIL

7-10am: Barbeque breakfast at Jellico Park with Town Bands performing. There will be the presentation of Australia Day Awards and Citizens Ceremony. <a href=”http://www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Stepan Kerkyasharian AM

 

Young patriots.

Young patriots. Source: DailyTelegraph

MOSMAN CITY COUNCIL

10am-12.30pm: Citizenship Ceremony, Address by Australia Day Ambassador, announcement of Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year and community barbecue. <a href=”http://www.mosman.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.mosman.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Hayden Quinn

MURRAY SHIRE COUNCIL

7.45-11am: Big BBQ Breakfast, kids activities, live entertainment, Australia Day Ambassador, Australia Day Awards, Citizenship Ceremony, cutting of the cake. <a href=”http://www.murray.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.murray.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Lisa McInnes-Smith

MURRUMBIDGEE SHIRE COUNCIL

7am-1pm: BBQ breakfast and loads of fun at Coleambally from 7am, followed by BBQ lunch and awards ceremony at CWA Park, Darlington Point, from 11.30am. <a href=”http://www.murrumbidgee.local-e.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.murrumbidgee.local-e.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Charles Billich

MUSWELLBROOK SHIRE COUNCIL

7am-12pm: Free Aussie BBQ Breakfast and Official Ceremony with Awards presentations, performances by local groups and kids’ activities at Denman Sports Centre. <a href=”http://www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Taylor Corry

NAMBUCCA SHIRE COUNCIL

8.30-11.30am: Australia Day Ceremony held at the Macksville Ex Servicemen’s Club. <a href=”http://www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.nambucca.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Grant Goldman

NARRABRI SHIRE COUNCIL

7-11am: BBQ and family fun day at the Aquatic Centre Narrabri. <a href=”http://www.narrabri.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.narrabri.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Emma Rossi

NARRANDERA SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-7pm: Lions Club BBQ breakfast, Australia Day Official Ceremony and thanksgiving service, yabby races, raft race, activities at Lake Talbot Swimming Complex. http://www.narrandera.com.au. Ambassador: Turia Pitt

NARROMINE SHIRE COUNCIL

7.30-11am: Enjoy a free community breakfast, song writing contest, official welcome and Awards. Free entry to pools, craft stalls, and entertainment. <a href=”http://www.narromine.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.narromine.nsw.gov.au</a>.
Ambassadors: Mary-Ruth Mendel (Narromine), Ruth Shanks AM (Trangie)

NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL

9am-3pm: Australia Day Citizenship and Awards Ceremony and Newcastle’s Australia Day Martitime Festival. <a href=”http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Prof Merlin Crossley

NORTH SYDNEY COUNCIL

10am-3pm: Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and Community Awards Presentation. Celtic Festival with food stalls, entertainment and family fun. <a href=”http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Roy Billing

OBERON COUNCIL

8am-2pm: Billy Tea and Damper, Australia Day ceremony and award presentations, followed by a family BBQ and fun for the entire community at the Oberon Common. <a href=”http://www.oberon.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.oberon.nsw.gov.au</a> . Ambassador: Andy Paschalidis

ORANGE CITY COUNCIL

7.30am-2pm: Family event in leafy, picturesque Cook Park with community breakfast, entertainment, flag raising, Citizenship Ceremony and community awards. <a href=”http://www.orange.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.orange.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Jacinta Tynan

PALERANG COUNCIL

7.30am-2.30pm: 7.30am breakfast BBQ in Bungendore; 10am morning tea in Captains Flat; 12.30pm BBQ lunch in Braidwood. Community awards at all events. <a href=”http://www.palerang.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.palerang.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Christopher Cheng

PARKES SHIRE COUNCIL

7am-10pm: Community walk, free breakfast, Australian Car Display, Flag-Raising and Awards Ceremony and Australia Day Pool Party with free entry between 2-6pm. <a href=”http://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.parkes.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Gary Dawson OAM

PENRITH CITY COUNCIL

6-9.30pm: Celebrate Australia Day at the Lakes with over three hours of free family entertainment and a spectacular fireworks finale. <a href=”http://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Erik Horrie

PITTWATER COUNCIL

7.30-11.30am: Bert Payne Reserve Newport at 7:30am. Kids activities, face-painting, treasure hunts, live music. Meet our Ambassador and welcome our new citizens. <a href=”http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Tracey Spicer

 

Show your true colours.

Show your true colours. Source: DailyTelegraph

PORT MACQUARIE HASTINGS COUNCIL

8am-10.30pm: Celebrations including official ceremonies, entertainment, competitions BBQs and family fun in Wauchope and Port Macquarie Town Beach. <a href=”http://www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.pmhc.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Judy Stone AM

PORT STEPHENS COUNCIL

8am-2pm: Australia Day community celebrations and family fun at Fly Point. http://www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au. Ambassadors: Todd Greenberg (Port Stephens), Gavin Morris (Nelson Bay)

QUEANBEYAN CITY COUNCIL

5-9pm: Citizenship Ceremony, Australia Day Awards, children’s rides, face painting and activities, live music, free raffle and fireworks spectacular. <a href=”http://www.qcc.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.qcc.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Prof Thomas Alured Faunce

RANDWICK CITY COUNCIL

10am-2pm: Enjoy live music and giveaways at Coogee Beach from 10am-12pm also family friendly activites at the Prince Henry Centre Little Bay from 12pm-2pm. Ambassador: John Harper

RICHMOND VALLEY COUNCIL

8am-4pm: Richmond Valley’s Celebrations will be full of fun for the whole family. There will be music, markets, kids activities and more at Coraki. <a href=”http://www.richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.richmondvalley.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Digby Moran

ROCKDALE CITY COUNCIL

8.15am-1pm: Official Ceremony and Welcome to Country; 10am-1pm Sausage Sizzle and Family Fun with Peppermint Jam at Peter Depena Reserve Dolls Poin. <a href=”http://www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Greg Grainger

SHELLHARBOUR CITY COUNCIL

7am-12pm: The day includes entertainment, Citizenship, huge $4 breakfast – all proceeds going to charity – free facepainting, rides, animal farm and much more. <a href=”http://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Prof Timothy Sharp

SHOALHAVEN CITY COUNCIL

8am-12pm: BBQ Breakfast, family fun day, Awards Ceremony and Citizenship Ceremony. <a href=”http://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Bob Turner

SNOWY RIVER SHIRE COUNCIL

9-11am: Lions Club Breakfast in the Park together with official Australia Day Ceremony and Awards Presentations. http://www.snowyriver.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Melissa Medlicott

STRATHFIELD MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

8.30am-1pm: Celebrate Australia Day in Strathfield Park. Citizenship and Awards Ceremonies, BBQ, jumping castle, face painting and lots more fun kids’ activities. <a href=”http://www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Karen Banton

SUTHERLAND SHIRE COUNCIL

1-9.15pm: Join WSFM’s Jonesy, Kate Ceberano, Mental As Anything, Mark Vincent, The Voice’s Alex Gibson and more for a great day of entertainment by the beach. www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au

TAMWORTH REGIONAL COUNCIL

Barraba 8-10.30am: Community BBQ Breakfast followed by official program including Welcome to Country, Ambassador Address, entertainment and awards presentation. <a href=”http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Michael Crossland

Manilla 12-2.30pm: Fun day including presentation of awards, Welcome to Country, Ambassador Address, Golden Flipper Relay, Cutting Australia Cake, BBQ and morning tea. <a href=”http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Matthew Donovan

Nundle 8-10.30am: Australia Day and Civic Awards, community breakfast, children’s activities, trivia, best themed Aussie hat, sheep shearing and bush band. <a href=”http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Joe Snell

TEMORA SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-8pm: Breakfast at Ariah Park at 8am, followed by slip and slide, best hat competition, BBQ dinner, citizenship ceremony in Temora from 5pm.<a href=”http://www.temora.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”> http://www.temora.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Jeremy Lindsay Taylor

TENTERFIELD SHIRE COUNCIL

8-11am: Come to Tenterfield Memorial Hall for the Awards Ceremony and see local singer/song writer Michael O’Sullivan and the Tenterfield Highland Pipe Band. <a href=”http://www.tenterfield.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.tenterfield.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Steve Widders

THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-1pm; 4-9pm: Australia Day on Main Street, Piazza at Castle Towers, Australia Day Main Event at Balcombe Heights Estate, Baulkham Hills. <a href=”http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.thehills.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Simone Kennedy

TUMUT SHIRE COUNCIL

8-11am: Tumut Shire official Australia Day awards ceremony including BBQ breakfast, entertainment and citizenship ceremony. Held in Stockwell Gardens, Tumut. Ambassador: Hannah Campbell-Pegg

ULLADULLA MILTON LIONS CLUB

9am-2.30pm: A fun filled day for all ages, entertainment on stage, undercover spectator seating, markets, displays, rides, exhibitions and a Citizenship Ceremony. <a href=”http://www.ulladullamilton.nsw.lions.org.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.ulladullamilton.nsw.lions.org.au</a>.
Ambassador: Andrew Lock OAM

UPPER HUNTER SHIRE COUNCIL

11am-6pm: Awards Ceremony, community celebrations and family fun in Merriwa, Murrurundi and Scone. Free Entry into Merriwa Pool from 2pm-6pm. <a href=”http://www.upperhunter.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.upperhunter.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassadors: Matt Hall (Merriwa), Rick Timperi (Murrurundi), Darren Coggan (Scone)

UPPER LACHLAN SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-12pm: Celebrations and official ceremonies in Crookwell, Gunning and Taralga. http://www.upperlachlan.local-e.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Dermot O’Gorman

URALLA SHIRE COUNCIL

10am-3pm: Street parade with the Armidale Pipe Band and floats. Ambassador’s address, awards, Howie Bros band, food stalls and thong throwing competition. <a href=”http://www.uralla.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.uralla.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Byron Watson

URANA SHIRE COUNCIL

10.30am-5pm: Morning tea awards and presentation at the Vintage Museum, followed by BBQ dinner and activities at the Oaklands swimming pool. <a href=”http://www.urana.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.urana.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Lyn Thorpe OAM

WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL

Australia Day celebrations in Wagga Wagga will span three days with a variety of activities for everyone. There are concerts, movies, markets and more. <a href=”http://www.wagga.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.wagga.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassadors: Mark Grentell and Peter Cox

WAKOOL SHIRE COUNCIL

7-8.45am: Community Breakfast at Riverside Park in Barham followed by the official presentations of Citizen, Junior Citizen and Sportsperson of the Year Awards. <a href=”http://www.wakool.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.wakool.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Viviene Karsounis

WALCHA COUNCIL

10am-12pm: Breakfast in the park, egg and spoon races, flag raising, bush poets, live music and face painting. <a href=”http://www.walcha.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.walcha.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Corey Payne

WALGETT SHIRE COUNCIL

8.30-11am: The day will commence with a community breakfast in Lightning Ridge, followed by official award presentations made by the Australia Day Ambassador. <a href=”http://www.walgett.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.walgett.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Brad Farmer

WARREN SHIRE COUNCIL

8.30am-12pm: Free Aussie BBQ Breakfast followed by the Australia Day Awards Ceremony at the Sporting Complex, Victoria Park. <a href=”http://www.warren.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.warren.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Mark Tonelli

 

Fly the flag on Australia Day.

Fly the flag on Australia Day. Source: News Limited

WARRINGAH COUNCIL

Dee Why Community 7am-2pm: Big breakfast, rides, entertainment at Dee Why Beach, Narrabeen, Beacon Hill and Warringah Aquatic Centre. <a href=”http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.warringah.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassadors: Cheryl Koenig (Dee Why), Justin Herald (Narrabeen)

WARRUMBUNGLE SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-12pm: Award presentations, BBQs, entertainment and cutting of Australia Day Cake in Coonabarabran and Coolah. <a href=”http://www.warrumbungle.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.warrumbungle.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassadors: Claire Tonkin (Coolah), Greg Donovan (Coonabarabran)

WEDDIN SHIRE COUNCIL

8-10.30am: A BBQ breakfast and family fun day at Taylor Park with live music and children’s activities, followed by a short official ceremony. Ambassador: Noeline Brown

WELLINGTON COUNCIL

8am-4pm: Cameron Park Breakfast with Official Ceremony, family fun, local musicians, face painting, reptile show and balloon animal making. www.wellington.nsw.gov.au. Ambassador: Clary Castrission

WENTWORTH SHIRE COUNCIL

10.30am-2.30pm: Come and enjoy a lovely morning with music, food and fun for all. <a href=”http://www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.wentworth.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Gretel Killeen

WILLOUGHBY CITY COUNCIL

9am-12pm: Celebrate Australia Day in Willoughby at The Concourse Chatswood with the Willoughby Band, children’s choir, free sausage sizzle and our award winners. <a href=”http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Iva Davies

WINGECARRIBEE SHIRE COUNCIL

9.30am-4pm: Official Australia Day Ceremony at Berrima Historic Courthouse. Street Parade, food stalls, markets, emergency services displays. <a href=”&lt;span id=&quot;U4029157832jpF&quot; style=&quot;font-family:%27Guardian%20Sans%20XCond%20Medium%27;font-style:normal;font-weight:medium;%22%3ewww.wsc.nsw.gov.au%3c/span%3e” target=”_blank”><a href=”http://www.wsc.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.wsc.nsw.gov.au </a></a>

WOLLONDILLY SHIRE COUNCIL

8am-12pm: Official and Citizenship Ceremonies, free BBQ breakfast and lunch, face painting, jumping castle and more at Picton Botanic Gardens. <a href=”http://www.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.wollondilly.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: Graham Ross

WYONG SHIRE COUNCIL

11am-9pm: Sat 25th Canton Beach 4-9pm; Sun 26th Memorial Park, The Entrance Foreshore 11am; 9pm Australiana competitions, displays, live bands, fireworks. www.wyong.nsw.gov.au

YASS VALLEY COUNCIL

7am-11pm: Breakfast, awards presentation and flag raising in Coronation Park, followed by outdoor screening of Finding Nemo at Yass Memorial Swimming Pool. <a href=”http://www.yassvalley.nsw.gov.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.yassvalley.nsw.gov.au</a>. Ambassador: John Stanley

YOUNG SHIRE COUNCIL

8.30-11.45am: Australia Day celebrations in Young will take place at Carrington Park. There will be a breakfast BBQ, children’s entertainment and official ceremony. <a href=”http://www.visityoung.com.au&#8221; target=”_blank”>www.visityoung.com.au</a>. Ambassador: Paul Murray

Melbourne’s iconic Captain Cooks’ Cottage has been graffitied in the lead up to Australia Day

Captain Cook's cottage was deemed an

Captain Cook’s cottage was deemed an “absurd shrine to genocide” last year. Source: Twitter

 

Graffiti on Cooks' Co...

Graffiti on Cooks’ Cottage. Source: HeraldSun

Melbourne’s iconic Captain Cooks’ Cottage has been graffitied with Anti-Australian day slogans.

The historic building in the Fitzroy Gardens, on the outskirts of Melbourne’s CBD, was spray-painted overnight, with slogans including “26th January, Australia’s shame” and another containing profanity.

Council workers have arrived to clean off the paint and police are inspecting the damage.

It’s not the first time that the landmark has been attacked.

Anarchist blog “disaccords” claimed responsibility for the 2013 graffiti, saying in an online statement the denial of Australia’s “brutal” history was nowhere more evident than on Australia Day.

“This is why we trashed the absurd shrine to genocide, Captain Cook’s Cottage, with paint,” the bloggers wrote last year.

However, no one was charged over those incidents.

Police are investigating the latest incident and say no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

There are no CCTV cameras on that particular side of the building.

The cottage was originally built in 1755 in Yorkshire, England by Captain James Cooks’ parents.

Tracy Spiridakos and David Lyons walk the press line at the panel for their hit NBC series

‘Revolution’ & ‘Grimm’ Casts Attend Comic-Con Panels!

'Revolution' & 'Grimm' Casts Attend Comic-Con Panels!

Tracy Spiridakos and David Lyons walk the press line at the panel for their hit NBC series Revolution held during 2013 Comic-Con on Saturday (July 20) in San Diego, Calif.

The actors were joined by their co-stars Giancarlo Esposito, Billy Burke, and JD Pardo at the event.

David Giuntoli and Bitsie Tulloch were in attendance to represent the cast of Grimm that same day, along with their co-stars Bree Turner, Claire Coffee, Sasha Roiz, Silas Weir Mitchell, Russell Hornsby, and Reggie Lee.

FYI: Bitsie is wearing Bionda Castana shoes. David Giuntoli is wearing Levi’s jeans. Bree is carrying an RK New York spiked handbag.

Tracy Spiridakos was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she lived until the age of four. At that time her parents took her and her two brothers to a small village of Skala in Greece, which is just south of Sparta. Later Spiridakos returned to Winnipeg and spent her spare time and summer holidays working at her parents’ restaurant. As one to always be the entertainer among her family, it was only a matter of time before Tracy took the leap of faith and moved to Vancouver to begin her career as an actress.

It wasn’t long before Tracy booked her first role after setting out on this journey. She has appeared in numerous television productions such as “Supernatural,” “Hellcats,” “Psych,” “Being Human” and her own series, “Majority Rule,” where she played the town’s mayor, as well as a number of television movies including “RAGZ.” She also landed a role in the feature film “Caesar: Rise of the Apes,” and a lead role in the upcoming feature “The New Girl.” When she isn’t working, Spiridakos enjoys reading, snowboarding, kickboxing or just hanging out with her dog Jersey and her family and friends.

A SINGLE male Queensland fruit fly has been found in a trap in Whangarei

Source: news.com.au

Aussie pest found in New Zealand

The fly, which poses a potential threat to New Zealand’s horticultural industry, was collected from a surveillance trap on Tuesday and the Ministry for Primary Industries is investigating the find.

MPI deputy director general compliance and response Andrew Coleman says field teams are setting additional traps to see if there are other fruit flies in the area.

“It is vital to find out if the insect is a solitary find or if there is a wider population in Whangarei,” he said.

“This insect is an unwanted and notifiable organism that could have serious consequences for New Zealand’s horticultural industry. It can damage a wide range of fruit and vegetables.”

MPI is working closely with international partners and the horticultural industry to minimise the risk to New Zealand growers and exporters.

A controlled area will be in place, restricting the movement of fruit and vegetables out of the area.

The most likely way fruit flies arrive in New Zealand is in fresh fruit and vegetables.

Queensland fruit fly has been found on three previous occasions: in Whangarei in 1995 and in Auckland in 1996 and 2012.

Northern Territory on measles alert

Source: News.com.au

TERRITORIANS are being urged to be on alert for measles symptoms after an infected person visited two doctors’ surgeries, three shopping centres and a childcare centre in Darwin and Palmerston.

The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) says a person became unwell several days after returning to Australia from holidaying in Singapore and Hong Kong.

The CDC says between January 13 and 19 the infected patient visited two different general practice surgeries and a massage therapist in Casuarina, a chiropractor and the Royal Darwin Hospital Emergency Department.

The patient also visited a child care centre in the Palmerston area and Casuarina Village, Casuarina Shopping Square and Oasis Shopping Village in Palmerston.

The centre is in the process of contacting people who visited those areas, but says it’s important to contact a doctor if you experience measles symptoms including high fever, cough, running nose or sore eyes.

“People not immune to measles who attended these services during the same period or a few hours after would be at risk of contracting the disease,” the CDC said in a statement.

The CDC has urged Territorians to get the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine if they haven’t already.

Measles is a very contagious viral illness that is spread between people through coughing and sneezing.

Up to one third of people infected with measles will experience complications, including ear infections, diarrhoea, pneumonia or even encephalitis and may require hospitalisation.

Complications are more common in young children and elderly people.

The best hotels in Australia revealed by Tripadvisor

Wolgan Valley Resort in the Central West of NSW. Picture: Supplied

Wolgan Valley Resort in the Central West of NSW. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

THEY are the hotels with the “wow” factor that we can claim as our very own.

The nation’s top 25 hotels have been revealed in the 12th annual TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, which also rated the world’s best in a separate category.

Wolgan Valley Resort in the Blue Mountains, NSW, topped the list for the second year. A haven for celebrities such as Delta Goodrem and cricketer Michael Clarke, it was described as a “beautiful, elegant stay … breathtaking”.

There were also some surprise additions to the list, including Xanadu Holiday Resort at Main Beach, Gold Coast, which took out the second spot, and Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort, in third place.

They even beat the notoriously extravagant Qualia resort in Hamilton Island, which was voted the world’s best hotel by Conde Nast Traveler last year.

Qaulia was ranked seventh in the TripAdvisor list, while Xanadu was praised for its “perfect location, amenities and service” and Coconut Resort was described as a “haven for families”.

In total, 7123 properties worldwide won TripAdvisor awards in 2014, and Australia featured 118 award winners.

 

The best hotels in Australia revealed

A room at the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa in NSW. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

The top 10 best Australian hotels:

1. Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort, Blue Mountains, NSW

2. Xanadu Holiday Resort, Main Beach, QLD

3. Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort, Cairns, QLD

 

Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort. Picture: Supplied

Cairns Coconut Holiday Resort. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

4. Summit Apartments, Airlie Beach, QLD

5. Grange Resort, Hervey Bay, QLD

6. Ashmore Palms Holiday Village, Ashmore, QLD

7. Qualia Resort, Hamilton Island, QLD

8. Paradise Links Resort, Port Douglas, QLD

 

Paradise Links Resort. picture: Supplied

Paradise Links Resort. picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

9. Oaks on William, Melbourne, VIC

10. Park Hyatt, Sydney, NSW

Top 10 hotels in the world:

1. Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Pontresina, Switzerland

 

Grand Hotel Kronenhof. Picture: Supplied

Grand Hotel Kronenhof. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

2. The Upper House, Hong Kong, China

3. Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, Lankanfushi, Maldives

4. Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica

5. The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, India

6. Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador

7. Lindos Blu, Lindos, Greece

8. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, Punta de Mita, Mexico

9. The Oberoi, Mumbai, Mumbai, India

10. Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto, Toronto, Canada

 

Trump International Hotel. Picture: Supplied

Trump International Hotel. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Indonesia gears up its military as senior politician labels Australia the country’s ‘greatest threat’

Source: news.com.au

A SENIOR Indonesian politician has labelled Australia as Indonesia’s “greatest threat” as the country speeds up a push to ramp up its military firepower.

It comes at a time of growing turmoil in Australia’s relationship with Indonesia after revelations last week Australian Navy vessels breached Indonesia’s territorial waters while enforcing the Coalition’s asylum seeker policy.

According to The Jakarta Post , Indonesia is greatly expanding its Marine Corps.

The nation is reportedly awaiting the delivery of 30 F-16 fighters, a dozen Apache attack helicopters and 103 Leopard battle tanks from the US and Germany, and is purchasing a dozen Russian submarines armed with cruise missiles.

The country has warned it will deploy navy vessels to patrol its coast after the Australian incursion last week. The nation’s Air Force has also programmed four radars to monitor the country’s southern border.

“The greatest threat will obviously be from Australia,” the Post quoted Susaningtyas Handayani Kertopati, a member of Indonesia’s influential House defence, intelligence and foreign affairs committee as saying.

Indonesian soldiers, left, and navy special force members line up during a security parade last year. Picture: AP

Indonesian soldiers, left, and navy special force members line up during a security parade last year. Picture: AP Source: AFP

She said the military should strengthen its “outward-looking” approach due to signs of escalating threats. The Post also quoted an anonymous official who said a clash at sea could be “imminent”.

“Now that we have three frigates on the border, a clash could be imminent as our Navy will prevent the towing back,” the official said.

One expert told news.com.au the military upgrade was a response to fears about Australia, which is “front and centre” in the country’s mind at the moment, as well as concerns about other neighbours and growing powers such as India and China.

An Australian Navy vessel sailing alongside a wooden boat carrying up to 180 asylum seekers on the waters off Christmas Islan...

An Australian Navy vessel sailing alongside a wooden boat carrying up to 180 asylum seekers on the waters off Christmas Island, Australia, in 2012. Picture: EPA Source: AFP

Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University said: “Indonesia has always been pensive about its territorial integrity and Australia has played a role in that in the past.”

“There’s a sensitivity about that. If Indonesia did that to Australia we’d be very upset, if not more so,” he said.

The Australian Government apologised to Indonesia after Navy vessels “inadvertently” breached Indonesia’s territory “on several occasions” in recent weeks.

Australia’s relationship with Indonesia has hit rocky waters recently, particularly because of the government’s ‘turn back the boats’ policy and allegations from US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden that Australia spied on the country’s president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his wife, Ani in 2009.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife Ani were targeted by Australian intelligence agencies in 2009. Pic...

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife Ani were targeted by Australian intelligence agencies in 2009. Picture: AP Source: Supplied

Prof Kingsbury said the Government had handled the spying issue “very poorly”. “We needed to apologise and we needed to do it quickly and we didn’t,” he told news.com.au.

At a media interview at the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said she works very closely with her Indonesian equivalent, Dr Marty Natalegawa.

“We’re in regular communication, we are working together for the shared purpose of ensuring the people smuggling trade is dismantled but also that the Australia-Indonesia relationship is strengthened.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said at a press conference this afternoon that Tony Abbott’s policies were causing tension with Indonesia.

“Our relationship with Indonesia is important. Clearly Abbott policies are causing real friction with Indonesia.”

‘Eastern’ Values Are Australian Values by Fotis Kapetopoulos

Source: Fotis Kapetopoulos

Australian and Greek troops at Crete during WWII.

Australian and Greek troops at Crete during WWII.

 

The ‘West’ was created through cultural and trade links with the great civilisations of the world. Our modern multiculturalism demands we teach children about them, writes Fotis Kapetopoulos

Kevin Donnelly, who joins Ken Wiltshire in Christopher Pyne’s education review, sees our National Curriculum as “too secular”. He wants Australia’s “Judeo-Christian” heritage to be strongly represented in what students learn, but “Judeo-Christian values” are an ideological rather than historical reality, the term itself appearing around the 1950s. The term also insufficiently recognises Eastern and Hellenic influences in Judaism and Christianity, and doesn’t account for the other great monotheist tradition — Islam.

The “Judeo-Christian values” touted by Donnelly are really a narrow band of very modern Catholic and Protestant ideas. Learning about the values that underscore and predate the modern Christian West would be exciting for school students. It would be worthwhile to teach the cultural links between the west and east from pre-Christian Hellenistic times, through to Eastern Christian Churches of Asia Minor, the Middle East and Ethiopia, to the European Middle Ages and Renaissance and so on.

The four pillars of the first human-centric and rational civilisations, Greece, Israel, China and India, all need serious investigation, especially as China and India reassert their importance on a global level.

I take pride in being part of a Hellenic, or western, tradition extending over 2,500 years, but I am sceptical of Christianity and for that matter most religions and their irrationality. Yet, in a democracy, like our Athenian predecessors, we respect different religions’ cultural, creative, literary, and philosophical traditions.

A great work of art is a very human endeavour, even if the artist believes he or she has had a religious epiphany. As we pay homage to the European and British democratic and rational revolutions of the last 400 years, we should not forget that they revolted as a reaction to Christianity’s strictures on individual freedom, scientific enquiry, free expression and the rise of the secular state.

As part of a delegation I visited the ancient capital of China, Xi-An, where my hosts showed me steles dating back to pre-Christian times. They were written in Hebrew, Greek, Hindi and Mandarin, and demonstrate the links between West and East that predate Christianity and the modern European and British Empires.

Assessments of Hebrew, Greek, and Roman histories, arts, literatures and values requires a far deeper examination of Asia, Asia Minor, the Middle East and Africa. Australian students aware of their nation’s diverse western heritages will engage with the Middle East, Africa and Asia with a sense of intellectual dignity, historical perspective and respect. We can reutilise the established and ancient connections between east and west already found within Australia’s multiculturalism.

Paul Cartledge, the AG Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at Cambridge University, says the British public school system owes more to Sparta and Athens than to Christianity. The late Thomas McEvilley, the most distinguished historian of Greek and Indian philosophies, has written tomes on the transference and connectivity of ideas between Greek and Indian civilisations over thousands of years — way before any form of Anglo-Saxon identity was born.

It is certainly the case that, as the American teacher and humourist Leo Rosten said, “A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they’re dead.” Pyne, Donnelly and Wiltshire fit the bill: their review will anoint great ideas and people that were once radical.

How will they look at Magna Carta, that attack against royal decree and the beginning of the new West? What of the secular utilitarian philosophers and fathers of British liberalism, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill? How will we examine at the great republican revolution against the British Empire and the birth of the United States of America, the apotheosis of Western values, under the stewardship of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and others considered treacherous radicals by the Imperial British?

Then, of course, there’s the French Revolution and the western values of liberty, equality and fraternity. How will they fit the review’s narrow Christian view of the world? Or Hegel, Marx and Weber, fathers of social democracy and modern socialism in modern Europe?

Will we examine the settlement of British and non-British peoples on Australia? What of Jewish, Greek and Italian sailors on the first fleet? How will the early contributions of Afghans, Indians, Japanese and Chinese immigrants, and Pacific Islanders be assessed?

What of the Eureka Stockade, was it not a revolt premised on western values? Women’s vote and gender equality fit in the western tradition, but how do they fit in the worldview of Christian or other religious patriarchies? Will we revise our historical brutality towards Aborigines? The Aboriginal civil rights movement was centred on western values of rights and freedoms.

Pyne wants to re-energise Anzac Day, once a sombre reflection on the waste of life from a failed Imperial operation. Like John Howard, he wants to re-establish it as the first test of nationalism. Yet in World War II Australians fought for survival, democracy and nation. It was in WWII that Australians were bombed by the militarist regime of Japan in Darwin, and were abandoned in Singapore by the British. The Turks never attacked us.

But royalist conservatives like Pyne are more about kowtowing to the Brits than Australian patriotism. In WWII we did not fight for empire, we fought for Australia against the totalitarian regimes of Japanese in the Pacific and the Nazis in Greece and the Middle East. In Crete the Australian troops, abandoned by their generals, were taken into the Resistance as brothers, and in the minds of Greeks, defenders of universal freedoms and democracy. Our involvements in Afghanistan and Timor Leste can be accommodated as actions in support of liberty, freedom and equality. Possibly even our involvement in Iraq, although that is a polarising subject.

The education review will not be a process of reflection on western values, philosophy and politics, arts and literature, but a reinvention of a very limited right-wing Royalist Australian agenda. Maybe when we have a Chinese Australian Prime Minister with a Buddhist background, secular values, fluent in Mandarin, English and Bahasa, schooled in “Western” and “Asian” values, the issue of educational values will be less charged.