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THIS year's Australia Day celebrations in the Kiewa Valley were hosted at the Hydro Park in Mount Beauty on Sunday, January 26, with a breakfast served up by the local Lions Club.
From 8am, attendees gathered to celebrate the day off and enjoy the delicious food on offer while listening to the sounds of the Mount Beauty Community Band who played a great arrangement of Australian classics.
The official ceremony commenced at 9:30am, with master of ceremonies, Lions Club member, Yvonne Sutton at the helm.
The Mount Beauty and District Scouts raised the Australian flag and led the attendees in the national anthem.
Councillors Noah Tanzen and Jean-Pierre Ronco presented the Alpine Shire Community Awards to the Kiewa Valley's Local Achiever, John Gibbons and Local Young Achiever, Zoe Gray.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas acknowledged the other winners of this year's community awards across the shire.
"Through John, we reflect on our environment: what it used to be and what it can be again, with consistent care, love and attention," Mayor Nicholas said.
"I am inspired by Zoe's determination, which has seen her combine her love for her community with real and targeted action."
The president of the Lions Club of Upper Kiewa Valley, Rodney Hyde said the breakfast went really well and was very well attended.
"Australia Day was awesome," Mr Hyde said.
"There was a great mixture of residents and visitors in town for their holidays.
"Thankfully, we still had enough food for everyone, but we must've served over 200 people, with some of them coming back for seconds.
"The Lions Club has been running the breakfast for a long time now, approximately 40 years and we had over a dozen members lending a hand at this year's event.
"We had activity bags for the kids and we would normally have face-painters, but we couldn't arrange it this year,
"I'm told, back in the days of yore, they had whole-day events here," Mr Hyde said.
"I'll have a talk with the Lions members and see what we can do for future Australia Day events."
