Hills Australia Day 2022

A Tapas of tempting treats is on offer in the Hills Australia Day as COVID restrictions cause concerns.

Community Flag raising events plus picnic sites Bella Vista, Castle Hill, Wiseman’s Ferry and Annangrove featuring coffee trucks, icecream vans and roving musicians are just some of the events being supported by Hills Shire Council.

The first event is an Australia Day Awards Presentation on January 19th at the Pioneer Theatre in Castle Hill.

On January 26th planned events include: Flag Raising Ceremonies between 8am and 11am at Kellyville, Annangrove, Kenthurst and Castle Hill.

The Indian community is organising a flag raising ceremony through the Community Foundation of North Western Sydney at Wrights Road Reserve at 8am on January 26th. There will also be a Flag Raising Ceremony at Heritage Park in Castle Hill at 8am organised by the Rotary Club of Castle Hill.

Members of the Rotary Club of Kenthurst have organised a flag raising event at John Benyon Rotary Park, cnr of Kenthurst Rd and Nelson St, in Kenthurst at 9am which will feature indigenous dancer Ryka Ali who will perform a smoking ceremony, traditional dance and Welcome to Country. Ryka’s heritage stems from the Wuthathi tribe of Shelburne Bay and from the Torres Strait Islands. Keynote speaker will be Marian College school captain Ryan Muscat.

A Flag Raising Ceremony will be held at Annangrove Park in Annangrove at 11am. The ceremony is to be organised by the Annangrove Progress Association.

Australia Day picnics are proposed at Bella Vista Farm picnic area at Bella Vista between 10am and 1pm; Castle Hill Heritage Park at Castle Hill from 9am to noon; Wisemans Ferry Reserve at Wisemans Ferry from 10am to 1pm and Annangrove Park Sportsground at Annangrove from 9am to noon.

The picnics are to be supported by youth entertainment or buskers, ice cream trucks, coffee carts and roving entertainment.A citizenship ceremony will be held at 12pm at the Council chambers in Bella Vista.

Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi said there would be a wide range of events to suit all residents.

“Given the rise of the Omicron variant, I want there to be an emphasis on outdoor or remotely conducted events to reduce the risk to our residents in the current environment. All of the proposed events comply with the health orders at the time.

I believe there is a great opportunity to engage large sections of the community remotely through colouring in activities for our youth and encouraging people to send through their Australia Day photos from their celebrations wherever they are.”

Find out what’s on and where at council’s website thehills.nsw.gov.au