BATHURST Regional Council plans to offer more for its residents when they celebrate Australia Day next year.
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It has been a long-held tradition in Bathurst for the celebrations to start out at Eglinton, with a barbecue breakfast offered at the War Memorial Hall.
Councillor Alex Christian said that the event has always been popular, but after it concludes there is a significant gap between it and the next council-run event.
“We’re going to stretch out the Eglinton breakfast,” he said.
“We are going to stretch that out hopefully into the early afternoon.”
The Australia Day working party has also considered holding other events, including a duck race.
The race still needs to be confirmed, but it is planned to commence at 11am.
Minutes from the Australia Day working party also indicate that the citizenship ceremony will be held prior to the actual day, on January 25.
It would be an evening ceremony at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, starting at 6pm, instead of being held in Machattie Park.
The activities at the pool will remain unchanged, with free entry to aquatic centre between 11am and 3pm.
Australia Day has become a sore subject in recent years, with a lot of discussion over whether or not the day should be moved as a mark of respect for Indigenous Australians.
Cr Christian feels very strongly about Australia Day remaining on January 26 and said that it would “survive here in Bathurst on my watch”.
“It’s a real shame and I think it is a disgrace what has happened to Australia Day, how it has been politicised,” he said.
“Australia Day represents everyone.”
