BATHURST'S Australia Day celebrations will be different on Tuesday, but in some ways they will be better.
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For one thing, several residents will be announced as recipients of the Australia Day Achievement Medallion.
The award acknowledges staff that work in the public service area, with the nominations coming from the community.
The medallions will be presented as part of Bathurst's Australia Day awards ceremony on Tuesday at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre (BMEC), which starts at 12pm.
The ceremony will have a capacity of 300 people.
Deputy mayor Ian North will have the honour of presenting the medallions alongside Sam Farraway, Member of the NSW Legislative Council.
As this is the first time they've been awarded, he is chuffed with having been asked to do so.
"It's a real honour whenever you represent council with any award, but especially the first time," Cr North said.
"It's an honour and I think a wonderful award to acknowledge the hard work of the everyday Australian.
"It's their job, but also a lot of them go well above what they are required to do, so it's nice to be able to acknowledge those people for their efforts."
Councillor Alex Christian has seen the list of recipients and said there is a mixture of emergency services workers and council staff.
"I think 2020 was such a unique year; we had the fires, the smoke, the dust and COVID, and then a rescission. We had people who had their every day issues, too, and I think to recognise those people who went above and beyond, it's a really special thing," Cr Christian said.
Importantly, these people were nominated by people in the Bathurst community.
"It's like the Living Legends, that people get to have a say," Cr North said.
The recipients will get their medallion, as well as a certificate, on Tuesday.
Both Cr Christian and Cr North hope that the medallions will become a permanent part of Bathurst's awards ceremony in future.
