CRONULLA EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
Cronulla’s lively and colourful Australia Day concert was the culmination of celebrations of the national birthday across the shire.
Aboriginal elder Deanna Schreiber performed the traditional welcome to country and mayor Kent Johns officially welcomed two shire families as new Australian citizens, presenting them with their certificates of Australian citizenship before the gathered crowd in Cronulla Park.
Cronulla was one of three venues for celebrations in the shire. Concerts were also held at Engadine and Illawong.
Cook MP and Minister for Social Services and former Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Scott Morrison reminded everyone at Cronulla of the main reason for the celebrations.
‘‘Australia is the greatest immigration nation on earth, ’’ Mr Morrison said.
He added that this year’s celebrations carried added significance, falling in the the centenary year of Anzac.
Our servicemen and women were centre stage and the centre of everyone’s thoughts with Cronulla Sutherland War Widows Guild president Shirley Hancock thanking the crowd for their generous donations to war widows and Legacy, the nominated charities from the proceeds of this year’s event.
So it was appropriate that the Royal Australian Navy Band got everybody in the party mood with an energetic and soulful performance of contemporary music
They were part of a lively entertainment line-up of that included the Col Hardy Band, Uncle Jed, the String Angles, The Chantoozies and The Whitlams, all culminating in the fireworks spectacular at 9pm.
While crowds were down because of the rain, enthusiasm was high, with some of the youngest Aussies providing the most energetic dancing in front of the stage, watched by their parents sheltering under umbrellas, bringing home the message of Australia Day is a celebration of the energy of a young nation looking to the future.
What was your favourite part of the Australia Day Celebrations across Sutherland Shire? Send us your jpeg photos to christiner@fairfaxmedia.com.au and be part of the gallery.
McGRATH FUN RUN
Two hundred entrants braved the cold, blustery winds and grey skies at Wanda beach today for the annual Jane McGrath Classic and Wanda X-Treme fun runs.
After several weeks of hot and stifling conditions, competitors had much cooler weather for the 7am start for the Jane McGrath Classic.
The Wanda X-Treme field raced shortly after the completion of the Jane McGrath 2.5-kilometre sand surf fun fun.
Jock Athletic runs the annual event for the community.
General manager Melissa Campbelltown said it was terrific to see the community support the McGrath Foundation and Wanda Surf Life Saving Club.
Proceeds from the Australia Day event are forwarded to the McGrath Foundation and the Wanda Surf Life Saving Club.
‘‘We had 200 entrants,’’ Ms Campbell told the Leader.
In the Jane McGrath 2.5km classic Rory Darkins of Cronulla won the men’s event, and Chloe Gentle of Kyle Bay won the women’s event.
It is the second year in a row Gentle has won it.
Bexley’s Ali Najeem won the men’s six-kilometre Wanda X-Treme’s men’s event, and Melissa Campbell of Cronulla won the women’s category.
The two-person Corporate Dash Relay was won by Laura James and Lara Saunders.
SUTHERLAND SHIRE CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY
By Jim Gainsford
Sutherland Shire gave a warm welcome to 167 new members of the Australian family on today at the 2015 Australia Day citzenship ceremony at the Entertainment Centre.
They came from 35 countries including Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Laos, Sudan, Nepal New Zealand, Columbia, Canada, Egypt, China, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil and Ireland, with the United Kingdom providing the most new citizens.
They came from many backgrounds but shared one common belief - Australia is the best place in the world to live.
Elvira Hawkins from the Philippines became one of our newest citizens watched by husband Robert and daughters Summer, 4 and Bailey 2.
‘‘It’s a good country,’’ she said. ‘‘You can’t go wrong.’’
Chinese-born Minghua Hu of Sylvania, took the oath to Australia watched by her husband Hao Zhou, who has yet to become an Australian citizen.
‘‘He said he may became an Australian citizen next year,’’ she said.
Sister Sandhya and Rashmi Shrestha from Nepal had nothing but praise for their new home.
Originally from Kathmandu, both sisters are registered nurses.
‘‘I like the environment here,’’ Sandhya said. ‘‘It’s very clean.’’
Rashmi loves the multiculturalism of Australia.
Sandhya agrees. ‘‘I love the harmony here,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s very peaceful.’’
Scottish-born April Daisy McHugh, 20, wore tartan to celebrate becoming an Australian citizen.
She was supported on her big day by her parents George and Aileen and brother, George junior.
‘‘I came to Australia when I was two-years old so I don’t remember much about Scotland,’’ she said. ‘‘But what I love about Australia is the weather, the beaches and the friendly people.’’
To which her father, George added ‘‘And the lack of rain. Australians like the rain, but we don’t miss it.’’
Grandmother Edelmira Abril Galindo, 63, arrived from Columbia five years ago to join her daughters Claudia, a teacher, and Johanna, an audiologist, and her granddaughter Karen.
‘‘When my daughters said they were moving to Australia I thought it was too far away,’’ Mrs Abril-Galindo said.
‘‘But I came for a holiday and when I went back I thought I would also like to move to Australia. It’s such a a beautiful country and very peaceful.’’
After the citizenship ceremony, residents were treated to an Aussie barbecue outside the entertainment centre before heading off one of three Australian Day celebrations at Illawong, Engadine or Cronulla.
All will culminate in a fireworks spectacular at 9am tonight.
POLICE PRAISE PARTY-GOERS
St George and Sutherland shire police have praised the behaviour of party-goers during Australia Day celebrations.
By mid afternoon Sutherland and St George police both hadn’t been called out to any major incidents.
Miranda police crime manager Inspector Shane Woolbank said it was a significantly quieter day compared to previous Australia Days.
‘‘So far we haven’t had any arrests, we had a possible shark spotting at Bate Bay but that was a false alarm,’’ he said.
‘‘Last year we were flat out but the weather has seen the number of calls we’ve got to really drop,’’ Inspector Woolbank said.
There was a visible police presence at Cronulla on Australia Day with officers patrolling Cronulla beach and the nearby train station.
The rain meant the crowds were visibly smaller than in previous years with most people being well behaved and enjoying the live entertainment.
Trains heading to Cronulla were also half full with no major incidents reported.
CRONULLA EVENING ENTERTAINMENT
The wet windy weather deterred a few people, with crowd numbers down from last year, but many more people gathered around the stage later in the evening at Cronulla for the main entertainment.
The crowd, young and older, grooved along to bands the Chantoozies and the Whitlams and enjoyed the fireworks display at the end of the evening.
What does being Australian mean to you?