By SEAN CUNNINGHAM

NARRANDERA’S Australia Day ceremony will moved to Marie Bashir Park next year.

Narrandera Shire Council received an update from the Australia Day Planning Committee at last week’s meeting.

A decision was made to move the venue following feedback from the community.

Deputy Mayor Sue Ruffles believed the decision would have pleased the majority of locals.

“It sounds like there was some feedback from the community about the alternative being at Lake Talbot Pool,” Councillor Ruffles said.

“So, I think those voices will be happy with that one as things go.

“The other concern is the noise coming from the highway (at Marie Bashir Park).

“That was one of the things I saw why Lake Talbot Pool was to be chosen.

“Hopefully those things can be mitigated and people will be happy with the venue – it is a beautiful park, as is the pool, so we’ve got two great places.”

Cr Ruffles also noted that Grong Grong and Barellan have “some excellent things going on” during Australia day as well.

Mayor Neville Kschenka said council had received $15,000 in grant money to help fund the Australia Day events across the shire.

Cr Kschenka does not believe the ceremony at Marie Bashir Park would be impacted by excessive noise.

“I’ve heard the concerns about noise at the park but you know, I would’ve been at about 30 of those at the park and I’ve never noticed it,” he said.

“Maybe I’m just going deaf.”

Some of the planned activities during Australia Day will include Belinda Shanahan accepting council’s offer to perform at the ceremony.

She will sing Advance Australia Fair, Great Southern Lands and I Still Call Australia Home.

Council is also making inquiries to the young Wiradjuri dance group which performed at Spring Fair to be part of the opening of the ceremony, along with a Wiradjuri representative to deliver the Welcome to Country and play the didgeridoo.

Narrandera’s former Citizen of the Year in 2011 Gayle Murphy has been invited to be the local Australia Day Ambassador for 2025.

The Narrandera Ex-Serviceman’s Club Auditorium is unavailable for the Australia Day Concert, so council plans to hire the CRC Church and hall if it is available, with a music duo in the hall and a movie in the theatre.

A Wiradjuri art workshop and bush tucker cooking class are also being pencilled in to be held at the Narrandera Arts and Community Centre by Sandhills Artefacts, concluding with an afternoon tea.

Meanwhile, the Australia Day committee will meet today (Thursday, November 21) to assess Australia Day award nominees, which will then go to council for a decision on Tuesday, December 10.

There are three nominees for Citizen of the Year, two for the Senior Citizen of the Year, two for Young Citizen of the Year, four for Organisation of the Year, one for the Disability Advocate Award and one for the Environmental Award.

The names of the nominees are still confidential at this stage of the process.