A cup of tea, lamingtons, Anzac biscuits and fairy bread greeted the early birds to the Oberon Australia Day ceremony, held last Sunday at the Oberon Showground. A good crowd of Oberon residents was present when the ceremony began with the conferring of citizenship to Amgad Rezkalla and Ahmad El Bjairmi. Oberon’s two newest citizens were welcomed with a standing ovation!

After the singing of the National Anthem by the Ozy Youth Choir Oberon Mob and the Australia Day Ambassador, Elysha O’Neill’s address, the Australia Day Community Award recipients were announced. The Citizen of the Year Award went to Jan Lanser and the Young Citizen of the Year went to Baily Neilson. Two of oberon’s citizens shared the Sportsperson of the Year Award, Blake Fitzpatrick and Geoff Lawson. The Young Sportsperson of the Year Award went to Jakiya Whitfield. The Sports Team of the Year Award went to the Oberon Under 10s Junior Hockey Team. The Community Event of the Year was awarded to the Black Springs Community Association’s unveiling of the Charles Throsby Memorial Heritage Wall. The Volunteer Group of the Year was awarded to the Oberon Tarana Heritage Rail Heritage Rail Group. The Environmental Champion of the Year Award went to the Oberon Waste to Art Competition and Exhibition hosted by the Oberon Friends of the Oberon Library and the Oberon Council Community Services Department.

Malcolm Voerman, who was a nominee in the Young Citizen of the Year category, was awarded the Special Australia Day Committee Award for his tireless support for the Oberon community.