National pride on show

The community will unite to celebrate Australia Day on Friday, with events, citizenship ceremonies and Community Citizen of the Year Awards set to take place in Kwinana and Rockingham.

Celebrations for the City of Kwinana will take place at the Adventure Park from 8.30am, with a free barbecue breakfast available from the Rotary Club of Kwinana.

There will be water slides, a DJ and a visit from some native Australian animals. Australia’s newest citizens will be sworn in at a special citizenship ceremony starting at 9.30am, with 48 residents ready to take the pledge.

The recipients of Kwinana’s 2018 Citizenship Awards will also be presented, including citizen of the year, citizen of the year — youth, citizen of the year — senior, and an award for active citizenship.

“This year, we’re excited to hold our community awards and citizenship ceremony amongst the trees at the Kwinana Adventure Park — recently named Australia’s best park,” Mayor Carol Adams said.

“This is the ideal location for families to enjoy a relaxing morning while children keep cool in the Splash Pad and water slides.”

The City of Rockingham Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony will start at 8.30am in the reception room at the City’s administration building, with 70 residents from Africa, Germany, New Zealand, Malaysia and the UK set to become citizens.

The Community Citizen of the Year Awards will also be presented at the ceremony.

City of Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the presentation of the Community Citizen of the Year Awards recognised people and groups who made a difference through their actions and dedicated service.

“Recognising these people is integral to foster community pride and is an important thread in the fabric of the Australian story, and particularly our local story in the City of Rockingham,” he said.

The evening celebrations will take place in Churchill Park from 5pm-8.30pm.

There will be plenty of live entertainment and a range of free children’s activities, including a climbing wall, an obstacle course and face painting.

The smoke and alcohol-free event will conclude with a fireworks display at 8.30pm.

Australia Day is an important event in the City’s annual calendar because it’s an opportunity for the community to come together in the spirit of unity and multiculturalism to celebrate the unique freedom of being Australian,

Rockingham police are encouraging community members attending celebrations at Churchill Park not to bring alcohol, to make appropriate travel plans and to be patient when leaving carpark areas.

“WA Police Force will maintain a highly visible policing presence for the duration of the event, targeting antisocial behaviour, enforcing the Liquor Control Act and deterring the unlawful consumption of alcohol,” Rockingham police officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Brett Reyne said. “Private security is also being employed to assist in managing the event.

“Police will also be targeting unsafe driving behaviour in and around the event.”