Josh Dolega (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to let the Senate know about some of the amazing activities that were going on in the lead-up to and during Australia Day on Tassie's north-west coast. On 23 January I had the opportunity to join Mayor Alison Jarman and the federal member for Braddon, Anne Urquhart, at the Devonport City Council's Australia Day awards and citizenship ceremony. It was an absolute privilege to welcome 23 new Australian citizens and to celebrate the achievements of this year's award recipients: Peter Viney, Esther Campion, the Devonport parkrun and Maybelle Ralph. I'd particularly like to recognise Maybelle. Since she was a toddler, she has raised funds for charities and inspired our community through her love of reading and her commitment to giving back. Through her Maybelle's Mission readathons, she has raised thousands of dollars for local and national charities while encouraging other children to develop a love of reading. Maybelle's compassion, initiative and community spirit show that age is no barrier to making a difference in everyone's lives.

On January 26, I had the privilege of joining the Central Coast Council Mayor, Cheryl Fuller, at the Central Coast Council's brekkie by the beach, the Australia Day citizenship ceremony and the Australia Day awards. It was an amazing event for the community to come together and welcome seven new Australian citizens and acknowledge local champions Jeanne Koetsier, Bree How, Michael Wilson, the Penguin 150 committee members and community group Due South. It was a great local community event with great people and some bloody good grub provided by local community groups.

Another great local event was Henley-on-Mersey. The sun was shining, there was great food, the drinks were flowing, and there was Douglas the donkey wearing his Australia Day cap. It was so good to see so many Australians come out, get into the spirit, support each other, act peacefully and respect each other.