Australia celebrates
On Saturday 26 January inhabitants of the land down under will be celebrating Australia Day, the largest event in the national holiday calendar.
Commemorating the raising of the British flag at Sydney Cove in 1788 and celebrating what's great about Australia, free barbeque breakfasts, beach parties, concerts, parades, festivals and firework displays will take place across the country.
In New South Wales, Sydney will host the official start of Australia Day with the traditional Woggan-ma-gule Ceremony which takes place on the sacred sites of the native Gadigal people, Sydney’s traditional landowners. A range of events will climax with a firework spectacular in Darling Harbour.
In Brisbane, Queensland, a full programme of events, performances and activities will take place at the South Bank Parklands. Adelaide, South Australia, is holding Australia's biggest Australia Day Parade plus a free family concert and activities. Overseas visitors to Adelaide might like to combine an Outback experience with their city stay. Just two hours drive from the city is Portee, a recently renovated Edwardian homestead which is part of a 23,000 acre fine wool sheep station.
The winner of the annual Australian of the Year Awards are also announced by the Prime Minister on Australia Day. Voted for by the Australian public, previous winners include writer-scientist Tim Flannery, Nobel Prize winner Sir John Eccles and Australia's first Aboriginal Senator, Neville Bonner, AO.
Written by: Maxine Clarke
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