While the outdoor activities in Machattie Park were cancelled, there was still an enthusiastic crowd on hand when the official ceremony was transferred to the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre.

Bathurst mayor Greg Westman said numbers at the ceremony were affected, with about 150 people attending, the council made the right call in relation to the weather.

“We made the decision early this morning, and with the rain coming down now, it seems we made the correct call,” he said.

“Moving the official ceremony indoors meant the formal side of the day could proceed, and it allowed us to honour many of our citizens.”

The Panorama Chorus opened proceedings by singing the national anthem.

Australia Day Committee chairman and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole welcomed everyone, saying Australia Day was an opportunity to reflect on what we need to commit ourselves to do for the future of our country.

During his speech, Cr Westman encouraged everyone to apply the “Aussie spirit” to every day of the year, rather than one day of the year, and connect with community, family, friends and neighbours.

Bathurst’s Australia Day Ambassador, Andy Paschalidis entertained the audience with his reminiscences of life growing up in Australia as the son of Greek migrants.

The former athlete and media personality has been an Australia Day Ambassador since 1996.

“I was working with former international basketballer and Australia Day Council Committee member Damian Keogh and he was telling me about the ambassador program and encouraged me to join,” Mr Paschalidis said.

“I told him he only wanted me because he didn’t have a WOG – well-organised Greek – among the ambassadors.”

Since then, Mr Paschalidis has visited areas throughout the state, but after the success of his first country visit – to Coleambally and Darlington Point – he has restricted his roving ambassadorship to country areas.

“I had thought the Australian of the Year would be Father Chris Riley, or the Morcombe family.

“However, watching [2012 Australian of the Year] Geoffrey Rush last night [Wednesday] I realise how much he has done for the arts, both in terms of nurturing the next generation and his philanthropy and he made a memorable comment: ‘We are all actors – we act the goat, take the mickey and we spin a yarn’.

“Our mateship and devotion is phenomenal.”

Carole Eastment was named the 2012 SBS Bathurst Region Citizen of the Year.

The 2012 Jack Aubin Young Citizen of the Year is Bethany Stibbard, who was presented with her award by Mrs Ruth Aubin.

The Little Athletics Central Tablelands Zone Carnival was voted the Bathurst Regional Council Event of the Year, while Chris Marshall was the winner of the Jo Ross Memorial Award.