RESIDENTS and holiday makers are expected to gather in Port Stephens on Australia Day to see new citizens take the pledge and generally have a good time.
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Each event is community driven and representative of the unique environmental surrounds and its people.
“It is the locals, supported by Port Stephens Council, who thread together the activities, vendors, entertainment and atmosphere,” council spokesperson Maddie Rosenthal said.
Four locations will host events – Nelson Bay, Raymond Terrace, Lemon Tree Passage and Karuah.
Fly Point at Nelson Bay, against the beautiful back drop of Port Stephens, is the biggest in terms of numbers of people.
An assortment of entertainment, market stalls, formal Australia Day ceremonies, a sail past and live entertainment will feature from 9am to 4pm.
The Australian Reptile Park will also display a collection of snakes, lizards and even alligators.
Patrons can tuck into a Great Aussie Breakfast at Riverside Park, Raymond Terrace from 8am to 2.30pm.
There will be stalls, markets and amusements, jumping castles, SES display and an exciting speed boat demonstration by Acquatic Club of Raymond Terrace. The Port Stephens Annual Awards will also be announced.
These celebrations are run in unique partnership with Raymond Terrace Rotary Club and council.
Tillygerry Lions Club will host a similar schedule of festivities from 8am to 12.30pm at Henderson Park, Lemon Tree Passage on the Tillygerry Peninsula
Enjoy breakfast, bush tunes from Brumby’s Run and the Australian Army Band, markets and community events.
Karuah is the fourth staging point with a strong focus on local produce, entertainment and events, starting at 9am and climaxing with fireworks at 9pm.
Australia Day Ambassador Liesl Tesch will address the civic ceremonies at both Riverside Park in Raymond Terrace (ceremony starts at 9am) and Fly Point in Nelson Bay (starts at 1pm).
Tesch has competed in seven Paralympic Games, five playing wheelchair basketball (including two silvers and a bronze), and twice with sailing partner Daniel Fitzgibbon, where they won back-to-back gold medals in Rio and London.
“We are humbled to have Liesl as the Port Stephens Australia Day Ambassador for 2017,” Ms Rosenthal said.
Tesch is the co-founder of Sport Matters, an Australian-based NGO that uses the power of sport as a tool for development in Australia, the Pacific, Asia and Africa.
“The Australia Day events across the region are really inclusive and representative, and Port Stephens Council is proud to be supporting them,” Ms Rosenthal said.
