News
26 January, 2026
Goulburn’s Australia Day celebrations a day to reflect
There was a smell of optimism in the air this morning at Victoria Park in Goulburn, or could it just have been the free sausages sizzling on the BBQ?
There was a smell of optimism in the air this morning at Victoria Park in Goulburn, or could it just have been the free sausages sizzling on the BBQ?
Goulburn’s Australia Day celebrations kicked off at 7.30am with a free breakfast followed by a junior cricket match on Seiffert Oval from 8.30am.
Twenty-six new citizens from such nations as Nepal, the Phillipines, Bangladesh, Scotland, New Zealand and the UK took part in the citizenship ceremony at 9am followed by the official Australia Day ceremony at 10am emceed by Graeme Northey and with short speeches by Member for Eden Monaro Kristy McBain and Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor, Nina Dillon.
There also featured a First Nations performance from the Dinawan Dance Group from Dubbo, who also conducted a Smoking Ceremony, local choir The Bridge Choir, brass band Lilac City Brass, the Goulburn Soldiers Club Pipes and Drums, as well as covers tunes performed by local band Brew Band.
There was also an address from the Australia Day Ambassador, Barry Griffiths and the presentation of this year’s Australia Day awards by Mayor Nina Dillon, Deputy Mayor Caitlin Flint and Member for Eden Monaro, Kristy McBain.
There were market stalls galore as well as food vendors, live entertainment and free family activities including free entry to the Goulburn Aquatic and Leisure Centre throughout the day.
Goulburn Mulwaree citizen winners were Citizen of the Year for 2026, Rita Warleigh, with Event of the Year going to the Goulburn Inclusion Forum, Young Citizen of the Year Simon Walshe, Junior Sportsperson of the Year going to Charles Jorgenson, and Senior Sportsperson of the Year awarded to Makayla Jones (who is currently training with the Hockeyroos in Perth and was unfortunately unable to attend in person).
“It’s a real honour to be here today and to see people choose Australia to be their home,” Minister McBain said during the Citizenship Ceremony.
“For people lucky enough to be born here we sometimes take for granted how lucky we are but for people to actually choose us as the nation they want to call home is pretty special, and even more special that they choose Goulburn to be their home.”
Goulburn Girl Guides representatives raised the Australian flag and local singer Lachlan McGowan then led the crowd in singing the National Anthem.
Mayor Nina Dillon also addressed the crowd.
“Australia Day is a time when we come together as a community and reflect on who we are, where we have come from, and the values that unite us as Australians,” she said.
“Today it’s truly wonderful to see our finalists for the Australia Day Awards – each of you represents the very best Goulburn has to offer. Goulburn is a special place, and it is a community built on hard work, resilience, and generosity. From our volunteers and our emergency services workers to our teachers, carers, sporting clubs, and community groups, Goulburn is shaped by the people who step up often without any recognition to support one another.”
Goulburn Australia Day Ambassador Barry Griffiths, Deputy Commander for the SES South Eastern Zone based in Goulburn, told the crowd in over three decades of serving his community it had been an absolute privilege.
“On the 24th of April 1994, I marched out of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at Kapooka, and to add to the significance, the following day as an Australian soldier it was ANZAC Day,” he said.
“Just over 10 years ago, I was speaking to a friend in the lead up to Australia Day, and I asked what he was doing for the long weekend. I hadn’t picked his Indigenous heritage, but he replied ‘nothing, I don’t celebrate Australia Day’ - hearing that message in the media is one thing but hearing it from a mate is another.
“It made me reconsider what Australia Day represents – on one hand, it’s a day where many Australians celebrate our national achievements and on the other hand, it’s a day that marks profound and traumatic change for a large portion of our community.
“Reflection matters, and it leads to avoiding past mistakes, bettering ourselves and growth, acknowledging triumph and tragedy.
“Some call Australia the lucky country, but let’s be honest, we suffer crippling droughts, devastating floods, and destructive fires. Our oceans are full of sharks, we have five of the 10 most venomous snakes in the world, and the deadliest spider lives here, and even our weather forgets what season it is!” he joked.
“But being in Australia isn’t about luck or taking things for granted, because we’ve never been that lucky – getting here hasn’t been by accident or a 65,000-year lucky streak – we've achieved what we’ve achieved because we’ve worked hard to have what we have.
“It’s the values handed down from family and the community, the good and the bad experiences in life, disaster and war that have shaped what I am today.
“As Australians, we are shaped by our land, our environment, our community, and the full range of our experiences. They bring us together and sometimes they test us. Being Australian is about resilience, and in the words of General Sir Peter Cosgrove, ‘it’s about jumping the fence to help our neighbour, it’s about our proven ability to come together to stand side by side and fight our way through adversity.”
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