Ambassador Ian Coutts will join the festivities at the combined Echuca-Moama event, while ambassador Mary-Ruth Mendel will head to Koraleigh to present the Citizen of the Year Award.
Speech pathologist and co-founder of the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF), Mary-Ruth Mendel has been part of community Australia Day celebrations since 2009 and is honoured to be an ambassador once again and visiting the Murray River area.
Ian Coutts is an experienced public affairs and strategic communications manager who has spent 20 years in top level Australian sports clubs and is excited to be part of the first ever joint Echuca-Moama celebrations.
Murray River Council mayor Chris Bilkey said he was thrilled Australia Day ambassadors were taking the time to join the communities in their celebrations.
“Australia Day is such a wonderful day, particularly in our area where we celebrate our multicultural society, our diverse landscape, our remarkable achievements and our bright future,’’ he said.
“I know that all our communities will put on memorable breakfast events and having Mary-Ruth and Ian here just makes it all the more special.
“I encourage the local community to head along to the breakfast celebrations on Australia Day morning so we can show the rest of Australia just how much Murray River Council knows how to celebrate Australia Day.’’
The Echuca-Moama and Koraleigh events are just two of seven community breakfasts to be held around Murray River Council this Australia Day.
Here’s where you can get involved:
■ Echuca-Moama: Aquatic Reserve, Heygarth St Echuca from 7am for free early bird barbecue breakfast. Official program starts at 7.45am including awards and address by Australia Day Ambassador Mr Ian Coutts.
■ Mathoura: Soldiers Memorial Park, 8am for free breakfast and presentations.
■ Barham: Riverside Park from 7am for free breakfast. From 8am, address from local ambassador, presentations and the flag raising ceremony.
■ Moulamein: The Triangle from 8am; Breakfast ($5 per meal, free for school-aged kids), presentations and flag raising ceremony.
■ Wakool: Wakool Hall from 8am for free breakfast followed by Australia Day ceremony with presentations.
■ Tooleybuc: Mensforth Park from 7.30am; Breakfast (donation appreciated) and flag raising ceremony, followed by the duck race.
■ Koraleigh: Koraleigh Recreation Reserve from 7am; Breakfast ($10 per family or $5 pp), presentations, address from Australia Day ambassador Mary-Ruth Mendel and flag raising ceremony.
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