General News
26 January, 2025
Crowd gathers at Warracknabeal Racecourse for Australia Day tradition
Warracknabeal gathers for Australian Day 2025.
A strong crowd of locals gathered at the Warracknabeal Racecourse on Sunday, January 26 for the annual Warracknabeal and District Australia Day ceremonies.
The event kicked off with 8am with a free breakfast as the Warracknabeal Men's Shed band played as locals filed into the venue.
The two-man ensemble covered a wide selection of Australian hits from Slim Dusty's Waltzing Matilda, to John Williamson's True Blue.
At 9am, the official ceremony began.
After some opening words from a member of the Rotary Club of Warracknabeal, Warrack Eagles junior and 207-game AFL player Matt Rosa was interviewed on stage.
Another local musician, Brylie Chivell from Beulah, then took to the microphone, playing her covers of Paul Kelly's 'From Little Things Big Things Grow' and Men at Work's 'Down Under'.
The Warracknabeal and District's citizen was then presented to Diane Marchment.
Barry Schilling was given the Sportsperson of the Year award, and the Young Citizen of the Year, award was given to Ava Koschitzke.