The annual event attracted around 350 people, with many deciding to kick off their day with an Aussie barbecue provided by the Lions Club of Bathurst.

Children young and old took part in gumboot throwing competitions, three-legged races and sack races, while other people mingled under tall gum trees and chatted.

Croatian-born Romano Bandera was among the crowds with his wife Lona, who is of Danish heritage, and they reflected on how Australia is an incredibly lucky country.

“Australia Day reminds me of the big decision my parents made to come over the other side of the world [emigrating from Denmark], and I’m so thankful that they did,” she said.

Eglinton Australia Day committee member Barbara Anderson said she was impressed by the number of people in attendance.

“We’ve had a good crowd, there was a good turn-out. We ran out of coffee cups,” she said.

Four descendants of Eglinton World War I veterans killed in action were asked to raise the flag to kick-off the celebration.

David Press and Ben O’Regan (descendents of Norman John Dulhunty), Betty Healey (descendant of Robert Alfred Mayberry) and Shirley Kerschner (descendant of Colin Athol Cox) had the flag-raising honours yesterday.

No descendants of Ernest H. Hawke were available on the day.

Bathurst mayor Gary Rush, Member for Bathurst Paul Toole and Federal Member for Calare John Cobb spoke during the official ceremony, as did the city’s Australia Day ambassador, well-known actor John Wood.

Cr Rush spoke of the great community spirit in Eglinton and thanked volunteer groups for their involvement in the Australia Day celebration.

“This will be a special year for Bathurst as we celebrate our 200th year,” he said.

Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said he was impressed with how many people attended the morning celebrations.

“It just goes to show that we’re really proud to be Australians and proud to live in this country,” he said.

Federal Member for Calare John Cobb said Australians “should be incredibly proud of who we are” as a country.

“Yeah, we’ve made mistakes, everyone does and we’ll make plenty more of them, but we are a blessed community and a blessed part of the best country on Earth and we should never forget it,” he said.