AUSTRALIA Day was celebrated in true Australian tradition, with the Tea Gardens Lions Breakfast held at Moira Parade Park, overlooking the Myall River at Hawks Nest.
The annual event, run by the Tea Gardens Lions Club, is free to attend and features plenty of fun activities, as well as the legendary Tea Gardens Lions barbecue.
The event raises money for several community projects around the twin towns.
This year’s major project is uniting community interest behind a proposed fenced off-leash dog park at Providence Bay Park, between Bennetts Beach and Reflections Hawks Nest Caravan Park.
The park gives the many dog owners of the twin towns a place where they can legally unleash their canine companions near the salt air of the beach, with certainty that their pooches will be protected too.
From 6am, the Lions were toiling to set the scene.
Above them, ospreys and pelicans took full advantage of the persistent south-westerly wind.
They hovered over the Myall estuary, hunting for their own breakfasts in the clear waters while humans enjoyed the Lions’ barbecue in the park.
Local musician extraordinaire Ewald Jordaan was busy providing awesome live music all morning.
The crowds thronged for the thong throw, the three-legged and egg-and-spoon races, and the ever-popular free facepainting, provided by a team of local artists – Jeanette, Sherrie, Rozz, Sue and Pam.
At 9am, the national flag was proudly raised by Jan Peeters, recipient of the 2025 Citizen of the Year award, and everyone joined in for a rare two-verse singing of Advance Australia Fair.
Soon enough, everyone came to appreciate the 30km/h wind, not just for the amazing flutter in the flag, but also because it felt like having a fan on high for everyone at the park.
The sun appeared by 10am, and there was no chance of rain to spoil the festivities.
The next highlight was the announcement of the 2026 Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year – Paul Bendy and Gingerlily Shelton, respectively.
Lions President Amanda Sykes said Paul Bendy had a profound and positive impact on the health of our waterways and the maintenance of boating infrastructure.
“[Through his] involvement in the Myall River Action Group, the Myall Lakes Aquatic Club and the Tea Gardens Slipway Association.
“This infrastructure benefits the entire community by providing access for tourists, boaties and commercial maritime businesses.”
“Paul was instrumental in ensuring that the Tea Gardens Slipway is environmentally compliant and that an important part of Tea Gardens Marine History remains viable long into the future.”
Paul is also the Treasurer of the Myall Lakes Aquatic Club, which is instrumental in maintaining boating infrastructure around the lakes.
As team leader on the recent rebuilding of wharves and jetties projects and the effluent barge mooring infrastructure he provided inspirational leadership in ensuring that the Tea Gardens Slipway remains viable.
This is an enormous undertaking that requires many hours of negotiating with authorities, grant applications and meetings.
Gingerlily was visibly stunned to be presented with her Young Citizen award, saying she had only found out about the nomination the night before, after returning home from work.
“Gingerlilly has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication and service through her commitment to the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club and the wider community,” Amanda announced.
Her list of achievements include being an active member of surf club from the age of five, obtaining her surf lifesaving certificate at just 13 and achieving 100 per cent patrol attendance every year.
Amanda said the accolades also include, “involvement in weekly Nippers programs as a water safety team member, assisting in the rescue of swimmers swept out in rips, volunteering as a first aider at community events, and establishing the first junior Girls Rugby League team in Hawks Nest.”
Gingerlily has also been selected by Hunter Education to participate in the Women on Water and Float Your Boat programs, which support young women entering marine industries.
An 11:30am flyover by one of the new F-35A Lightning II jets out of RAAF Williamtown was a welcome capper to the morning on Moira Parade.
While the Lions packed up for the day, many headed down to Bennetts Beach to enjoy the next big Australia Day event from midday.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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