Community
27 January, 2026
Thousands turn out with their dogs, their ducks and more than a dash of pride
Thousands of people turned out for this year’s Australia Day celebrations in Berrima.
Thousands of people turned out for this year’s Australia Day celebrations in Berrima.
They came with their dogs – and one woman with her pet duck in a pram – wearing their national colours and waving their Australian flags with pride.
People of all ages and from all cultural backgrounds.
They arrived early to find a good parking spot or regretted the fact they didn’t as the clouds cleared and they faced a long, hot walk back to their vehicles at the end of the day.
Some motorists were parked up the hill as far as Greenhills Road and unfortunately beyond.
But they came. They listened to Australia Day ambassador Kumar Pereira.
He arrived in Australia 40 years but still considers himself a newcomer.
He warned new citizens that acceptance wouldn’t be easy.
“Getting accepted is not easy and you need to adapt,” he warned.
“It is difficult. I have learned from criticisms and setbacks.”
He reassured new citizens that with each piece of criticism they would “grow another skin”
Local residents cheered as 35 Southern Highlanders from 12 different nations became Australian citizens.
Member for Whitlam Carol Berry described it as one of the most significant days of their lives.
“Thank you for choosing Australia,” she said.
One new recipient walked to the stage as someone chanted ‘Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’ from the back row.
Residents applauded as this year’s Young Citizen of the Year and Citizen of the Year nominees were all bought to the stage and acknowledged.
As they should have been.
“Accept this as a pat on the back … you deserve it.”
That came from last year’s Citizen of the Year, Jenny Kenna, who still deserves repeated pats on the back for her on-going contribution to the local community.
The winners were announced and Allison Jane from Vocal Muster extracted another tear from people’s eyes with her rendition of ‘I am Australian’ before everyone headed off to enjoy the food, the fun and the traditional Australia Day parade down the Old Hume Highway.
Tractors, trucks and a Scottish drummer carrying a sleeping baby on her back.
It doesn’t get more Australian than that.
Read More: Southern Highlands, Berrima