Australia Day – where to reflect, respect, and celebrate in our region

The communities of the Longreach Region will have extra reasons to celebrate Australia Day this year, with additional activities in each community supported by one-off funding from the National Australia Day Council.

Longreach Regional Council successfully applied for COVID Safe Australia Day Grant Program funding, which will be used to enhance Australia Day celebrations in Ilfracombe, Isisford, Longreach and Yaraka. In addition to the traditional citizenship ceremony in Longreach, breakfast in Isisford and cricket in Ilfracombe, there will be a host of extra initiatives across the region including free pool entry in each town, free movie screenings, and a colour run in Isisford. 

Mayor Tony Rayner said the funding was designed to give the community more opportunities to get together this Australia Day.

“The National Australia Day Council funding program was aimed at making sure communities could come together to celebrate in a Covid-safe way. We applied and were successful in getting funding for some exciting additional activities for people in our communities.

“Thanks to this funding there’s never been so many activities for people in our region to choose from on Australia Day.”

The regional program of events starts the night before, on Monday 25 January, with a free session of the Luminescent Longreach show at the Qantas Founders Museum for locals. Numbers are strictly limited and bookings are essential, so call the museum on (07) 4658 3737, Monday to Friday, and mention the Council locals session to secure your place.

With free pool entry across Longreach, Ilfracombe and Isisford on the day, Council is hoping there will be no excuse for people to stay home. The Longreach Aquatic Centre will even be host to a Pool Party featuring a slip and slide, inflatables, music, kids activities, and a sausage sizzle. Free movies in Longreach and Isisford will also provide a respite from the heat, and seniors will also be catered for; with lunches in Longreach and Ilfracombe.

Isisford will start the day on a bright note with a colour run from the Big Yellowbelly to Whitman's Memorial Park, followed by a free community breakfast and the Isisford/Yaraka Australia Day Awards ceremony. In addition to its awards ceremony, Longreach will welcome its newest Australians with a Citizenship Ceremony at the Longreach Civic Centre, followed by a free community breakfast. 

Ilfracombe will celebrate in typical style with cricket on the Wayne Taylor Oval at the Recreation Centre, and Tug-of-War heats in the breaks. The cricket will see teams of eight competing, so anyone interested can set up their own team or join one of the teams on the day. Registrations will be finalised at 3pm sharp, so get there early to secure your place. An Iron Man Challenge will offer more laughs in the evening followed by a community barbeque and Australia Day Award presentations.

Yaraka have asked to celebrate on Saturday 6 February – with a population of only 20 or so, they wanted to wait until everyone has returned from holidays! The remote community will celebrate with free pool entry and a community dinner at the famous Yaraka hotel.

The region will also receive an official Australia Day ambassador this year. Migrant services and employment champion Gail Ker OAM will attend festivities in Longreach and Ilfracombe, while former local teacher and volunteer Kym Webb will deliver an Australia Day address in Isisford. 

Full details of the celebrations in each community can be found on Council’s website at longreach.qld.gov.au/australiaday.