Jubilee Park packed for Aus Day celebration

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Jubilee Park packed for Aus Day celebration

Acrowd of 350 attended the annual Australia Day breakfast on Sunday morning at Millicent’s Jubilee Park with significant numbers of locals and visitors in attendance to celebrate the national day and acknowledge worthy local citizens.


Under clear skies, the Lions Club of Millicent served up a hearty and hot breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, toast and sausages.


No charge was made for breakfast but donations were welcomed.


The new mini-bus brought a dozen residents of Boneham Aged Care Services to the two-hour function.


Local Lions Club member Michael Bleby was the master of ceremonies for the formal part of the function.


It included the ceremonial raising of the Australian flag by the Girl Guides and the singing of the national anthem.


Youth Recognition award winner Chad Cockrum (seated, centre) was congratulated by Matt Cockrum, Tameisha Walker, Tam Cockrum, Kelsie Cockrum and Eddie Cockrum.

Mr Bleby acknowledged all who had worked towards the success of the function including Wattle Range Council, Lions, Millicent Rotary Club, Lions Club of Wattle Range Lioness, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Stratford public address systems and the Millicent Salvation Army Corps.


He paid tribute to Millicent resident David Botting who was announced that morning as the recipient of the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to agriculture and the community.


The Corcoran Ward recipient of the 2025 Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award was dedicated community worker Wendy Thomson and the Young Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award was Millicent teenage volunteer James Donghia.


Millicent community radio station 5THE FM won the best community event for staging Rock the Rails.

James as well as Chad Cockrum and Mary-Rose Vanderheul were given Youth Recognition Awards for various endeavours.


The categories were Community Contribution (Chad), Achievement through the Arts (James) and Inspiration by Innovation (Mary-Rose).


The Corcoran ward Community Event of the year was the Rock the Rails outdoors concert at the Millicent rail yard staged by Millicent community radio station 5THE FM.


Their awards were officially presented by ward councillors Dennis Muhovics, John Drew and David Walshaw and each recipient made a brief acceptance speech.


Millicent Lions Club member Louis Leake served breakfast to Matt and Tam Cockrum.

A 10-minute address was given by visiting Australia Day Ambassador Wayne Anthony.


He spoke of his diverse life experiences and occupations including time as an actor, magician, rocket scientist and administrator on Aboriginal lands.


Community breakfasts in the Wattle Range Council area were also staged on Sunday morning at Penola, Beachport and Kalangadoo while informal functions were held later in the day at Tantanoola and Southend.


Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll officiated at the Beachport breakfast and also conducted a citizenship ceremony.

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