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3PM: Tilba's Ron Snape and Tralee Snape have been named Eurobodalla's joint Citizens of the Year at the council's 2015 Australia Day Awards.
Mr and Mrs Snape received the award in recognition of their work securing modern facilities for the oncology unit at Moruya Hospital. Read about the other winners here.
2PM: Were you in Batemans Bay for the celebrations? Check out this gallery!
1.45PM:
1.40PM: Australia Day celebrations are underway at Mollymook with the sparkling beach providing the perfect backdrop for the festival.
The Ulladulla-Milton Lions markets feature 110 stalls, with vintage car displays, a food fair and model trains also on display. More here.
1.20PM: Eden residents enjoyed their annual cricket match. Pictured are Janine Geraghty, Wally Connell, Drew, Rabul, Tessie and Lawrence Mudaliar and Angus Kooyman getting ready to go on. Photo: Kate Liston
1.10PM: Fergus Thomson’s life philosophy has changed in the past year.
When asked, the Eurobodalla councillor and former mayor, who is undergoing intensive treatment for a brain tumour, said his thinking was now different.
“My philosophy today is enjoy every day that you get,” he said. “It probably has been that we’ve always tried to contribute to the community and we’ve always enjoyed it.”
Mr Thomson was recognised for his service to the community and to local government this week in the Australia Day Honours, receiving an Order of Australia Medal (OAM). Read his story here.
1PM:
12.50PM: Shellharbour City Council’s Australia Day celebrations have again proved popular, with hundreds of people turning out to mark the occasion.
Australian flags, beach shelters, eskies and folding chairs dotted Reddall Reserve for the annual Breakfast By The Lake, which had everything from motor sports, live music, theatre performances, creative artistic sessions, competitions and games. More details here.
12.40PM:
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12.30PM:
12.25PM: Sanctuary Point’s Lynette Rolfe has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Her dedication to the community and to veterans and their families has been at the fore of her life “for aeons”.
Her husband, Barry, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after he served in the Vietnam War in the Royal Australian Air Force.
As a result Mrs Rolfe learned the importance of support networks, not only for those suffering from PTSD but also their families. Read her story here.
12.20PM: Lots of great Australia Day photos from Narooma. Click here for the full gallery!
NOON: A crucial question this Australia Day....
11.50AM: What's your view of Australia? There's some great ones here!
11.22AM:
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11.03AM:
10.58AM: Oh what I wouldn't do for a steak sanga at this point.....sigh...
10.55AM: This will get you feeling all patriotic....
10.45AM: Changes to Milton Ulladulla’s Australia Day celebrations have struck a nerve with the region’s ambassador for the day, retired journalist, radio identity and best-selling author Bruce Elder.
An Australia Day ambassador since 1996, Mr Elder said he loved the way Australia Day recognised and acknowledged the people “who provide the sort of glue for the community”.
And he was dismayed to hear the usual community awards handed out at the local Australia Day celebrations were not happening this year, under a change requested by Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash. Full story here.
10.40AM: Sarah Halin was shocked, but “very appreciative” when she discovered she had been named the Bega Valley Chamber of Commerce Young Community Citizen of the Year.
“Oh my god I was in complete shock – I didn’t even know I was nominated,” Sarah said.
“I am very appreciative though and couldn’t be more thankful.” Read Sarah's story here.
10.32AM:
10.30AM:
10.28AM: There's not much Candelo resident Harmen Kampman hasn’t experienced when it comes to an emergency situation.
After more than 50 years in the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Mr Kampman has been involved in pretty much every natural disaster possible.
His selfless dedication to community service has been rewarded this week in the Australia Day honours list. Read his story here.
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10.05AM: Annette Warby of Tathra said she was “flabbergasted” when she found out she was the Bega Chamber of Commerce Community Citizen of the Year.
As one of the first – and still current – members of the Bega and District Nursing Home Auxiliary, Ms Warby has been helping better the lives of the region’s elderly for the past four decades. Read her story here.
10AM:
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9.30AM: Shell Cove’s Robert Carroll could hardly believe it when he found out he had been nominated to receive an Order of Australia Medal.
The 69-year-old has been recognised as part of this year’s Australia Day Honours for his efforts in the military and his career in the justice system, particularly his work with juvenile offenders.
‘‘When I found out I was left a bit speechless, the secretary to the Governor-General sends you out a letter and when I opened it I could hardly believe it,’’ Mr Carroll said. More here.
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8.30AM: Australia Day celebrations have begun in most centres across the region.
This blog is your one-stop shop for everything Australia Day. It will be regularly updated with photos, video and stories of celebrations across the region.
While we would love to make it to every celebration, it's just not possible so we need your help in sending us photos of you, your family and friends enjoying the day.
You can tweet them to @fairfaxsthcoast, email them to kim.treasure@fairfaxmedia.com.au, send them via your local newspaper's Facebook page or tag us in them on Instagram @kim_treasure
Stay tuned to see what's happening in your part of the world and post to to be part of the fun!