While Sutherland Shire Council has scaled back its traditional Australia Day celebrations this year there are still smaller COVID-Safe community events being staged throughout the day.
There is family entertainment hosted in a COVID-Safe environment at Sutherland Shire Leisure Centres and roving performers and buskers at various locations throughout the Sutherland Shire.
The Council's Leisure Centres at Sutherland, Engadine and Caringbah are hosting pool parties with live DJs from 10am to 2pm. There will be free entry throughout the day, but capacity limits will apply.
Roving performers will entertain from 11am Australia Day at various locations at Cronulla, Engadine, Kirrawee, Como and Menai.
Sutherland Shire Council has taken its popular Australia Day concert series online this year.
The council is premiering a short film 'Our People, Our Places - Our Shire', a celebration of our local community that will be free and live streaming on January 26.
There is an online celebration of Australian talent featuring leading local artists Caravana Sun, Mark Vincent, Kim Sheehy, Luke O'Shea and Col Hardy, performing at popular and picturesque shire locations.
The online project also celebrates the shire's natural environment, as well as featuring reflections from a range of prominent Sutherland Shire locals and Aboriginal Elders.
The project was devised as a way of ensuring that the local residents and those from further afield could once again this year enjoy a range of exceptional performances as part of their Australia Day activities, with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic having forced the cancellation concerts staged each year by Sutherland Shire Council at Cronulla and Menai.
Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Steve Simpson, said that while the council was understandably disappointed not to be able to welcome concert goers to theSutherland Shire this year, he hoped through taking the performances online itwould help to find an even wider audience.
"All sectors of our community have faced struggles through the COVID-19 pandemic, and our performing arts sector is no different," Mayor Simpson said.
"Council is very excited to not only be able to support our performing artists, but also to ensure that their talents are showcased in such a way that people far and wide can enjoy their performances wherever they may be spending Australia Day this year.
"The film also gives us the opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in an area rich with natural beauty and community spirit.
"It features some poignant reflections and important messages from our local First Nations community leaders, as well as contributions from a number of high profile local residents on what it means to be part of our community.
The film will be premiered across a number of online channels, including YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxIYJ7h1PAMand the Sutherland Shire
