Oz Day in Narooma

AUSTRALIA Day was celebrated in Narooma on Saturday starting with Brekkie on the Beach at the Surf Club on Main Beach.

Plans had been made to move the Australia Day Awards from Ken Rose Park to Club Narooma if it was raining, however the weather held up and the ceremony went ahead under a dull sky in pleasant conditions.

This year the Master of Ceremonies was Peter Bull who did a good job despite a few hitches in the running order.

After the Acknowledgement of Country by Tathra Daley and the CWA address by CWA president Mary Conley, the CWA led the singing of the National Anthem while the 1st Narooma Scouts raised the Australian flag.

A Citizenship Ceremony was then held by Mayor Cr Lindsay Brown and 19 people became Australian Citizens including Narooma’s Steph Ratcliffe.

Narooma’s Australia Day Ambassador Peter Herbert gave the Australia Day address.

Mr Herbert is an accomplished writer and producer, with an extensive range of credits in television, stage, event work and film. He worked on many dramas, comedies and live events including the classics of Crawford Productions - Cop Shop, The Sullivans and The Flying Doctors – through to such memorable television comedies as The Comedy Company, Acropolis Now and Dossa and Joe.

With the Comedy Company, Mr Herbert was part of the writing partnership behind the character Con the Fruiterer, whose sayings “Coupla Days, Bewdiful, and Roula, Toula Foula, Soula and Agape” became national catchphrases.

Australia Day committee member Margaret Saker then presented the Australia Day badge to Mr Herbert on behalf of Woolworth’s management.

Addresses were also made by the new acting general manager of Eurobodalla Shire Council Rob Noble, Narooma High School student representative Jess Hunt and Member for Bega The Hon. Andrew Constance before the Australia Day Awards were presented.

Mr Constance acknowledged the volunteers in the community, of which there is a massive 40 per cent in the Eurobodalla Shire, saying they deserve “a big thank you”.

The 2013 Narooma Citizen of the Year Award was presented to CWA stalwart Dot O’Mahoney by last year’s recipient Graeme Osborne who was also performing on the day.

Other nominees for Narooma Citizen of the Year were Bruce Allen, Gabe Eichler, Peter Essex, Mick Marchini and Robyn Miller.

Last year’s Young Citizen of the Year Georgie Burrough presented the 2013 Narooma Young Citizen of the Year Award to Tamara Kenny who also won the Eurobodalla Young Citizen of the Year Award at the Australia Day Awards in Moruya the night before.

Tamara received the awards in recognition of her leadership skills and academic achievements as well as being a strong role model for other Aboriginal students.

“Ms Kenny has been an outstanding ambassador for Narooma High School and the wider community,” Cr Brown said.

“Ms Kenny is also an outstanding motivator and exhibits a deep understanding of individual situations. Working with younger students, she has encouraged them to reach their potential. Her caring and considerate nature has a positive influence on others.

“Tamara’s academic ability has also been outstanding; she has been accepted to study law at the University of NSW in 2013 and this is a great achievement for a regional student.”

The other nominees for the Young Citizen of the Year Award were Narooma High School students Chloe Hearn and Daniel Simpson.

At the conclusion of the award announcements the Reverend Carol Wagner said a prayer for peace before Graeme Osborne invited Cr Neil Burnside to accompany his performance of the famous Rolf Harris song ‘Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport’ with Neil playing the wobble board.

Up in Moruya, Marco Cardinale was named Eurobodalla Citizen of the Year for his outstanding service with the Moruya Surf Lifesaving Club over the past 28 years.

His is passion about saving lives and has trained more than 400 qualified lifesavers, radio and IRB operators.