IN PICTURES: A shady Australia Day in Giant Ram Park

The Wagin community enjoyed a cool and shady morning of art, trivia and awards in Giant Ram Park on Australia Day in a celebration of community involvement, participation and fellowship. The citizen of the year award was presented to local bank manager Brendan Hall in recognition of his ongoing support of various sporting clubs and his significant community service. The shared breakfast began at 8am, with food and drink provided by the Rotary Club of Wagin, Lions Club of Wagin and the Wagin Action Group. Attendees collected their eggs and bacon and then cooked them on the communal barbecue, providing a great opportunity for the community to catch up and chat. The senior citizen of the year award went to Grace Williams for her longstanding active community involvement and spearheading the Wagin Shoe Box Appeal, a project that fills shoe boxes with toys and essentials for children in need overseas. A painting activity overseen by Wagin District High School Aboriginal islander education officer Emmaline Winmar brought locals, visitors and students together to create six colourful panels depicting the seasons. “We thought we’d get the community together to help paint the panels,” Ms Winmar said. The murals were later installed at the Wagin Skate Park. 2019 citizen of the year Jules Pace was the guest speaker at the event and Wagin welcomed three new Australian citizens, a young family, into the community. Following the morning ceremony, a concert was provided by Denmark reggae band Rastatrix and community members enjoyed a morning of trivia beneath the trees beside the water.