Australia Day in the Snowy Valleys

Published on 18 January 2022

The Snowy Valleys community is invited to join Australia Day Ambassador Ms Michelle Leonard OAM, Snowy Valleys Councillors, and the Snowy Valleys Australia Day Working Group on 26 January to Reflect, Respect and Celebrate our nation, our people and our strong sense of community.

The annual Snowy Valleys Australia Day Celebrations will be held on Wednesday 26 January 2022 in Tumut’s Stockwell Gardens starting at 8am.

Presented by the Australia Day Working Group in partnership with Snowy Valleys Council this year’s event will again be run in a Covid-safe manner with social distancing encouraged and free hand sanitiser and face masks available at the venue.

The Rotary Club of Tumut will supply a free BBQ breakfast from 8am with complimentary coffee provided by The Coffee Pedaler.

There will be a citizenship ceremony welcoming 10 new Australian Citizens, as well as the Snowy Valleys Australia Day Awards presentation.

The Snowy Valleys Australia Day Working Group received 21 nominations for the region’s Australia Day Awards across five categories.

The celebrations will get underway from 8am with the official program commencing at 9am.

This year the ceremony will also be livestreamed on Council’s Youtube channel so those who are unable to attend in person can still be involved remotely.  A professional videographer will also capture the event for later release.

Those interested in attending the official ceremony are encouraged to RSVP via Council’s website www.svc.nsw.gov.au/Aust-Day-Ceremony

Australia Day Community Events will also be held on January 26 in:

• Batlow: Memorial Park from 8am. Presented by Rotary Club of Batlow. Breakfast in the Park, entertainment, and local awards ceremony.
• Tumbarumba: Tumbarumba Creekscape from 10:30am. Presented by Rotary Club of Tumbarumba. Rotary BBQ, entertainment, and local awards ceremony.

Events in Adelong and Talbingo are not proceeding this year due to COVID Impacts.

-ENDS-

Australia Day Ambassador

The 2022 Australia Day Ambassador for the Snowy Valleys is Ms. Michelle Leonard OAM - Founder and Artistic Director of the not-for-profit, Moorambilla Voices.

Growing up in north-west NSW, Michelle Leonard learned to play piano and clarinet but noticed there weren’t many opportunities for regional students to pursue music. As Founder and Artistic Director of the not-for-profit, Moorambilla Voices, Michelle works to create opportunities for underprivileged children in rural areas to access music education. She has taught many indigenous children and her work has a strong community focus. Moorambilla Voices has opened countless doors for many of its students, some of whom have walked out with a scholarship for Knox Grammar School or an invitation to study at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.