Image: Gosford Australia Day Ambassador, Julie Goodwin, addresses the crowd.
The traditional Australia Day Ceremony & Breakfast by the Bay 2011 at Wagstaffe, presented by the Wagstaffe to Killcare Community Association in partnership with Gosford City Council, was again a great success. Over 600 people attended and following the ceremony WTKCA volunteers served up over 600 delicious breakfasts.
The day commenced just after 8am ith a ‘Welcome to Country’. The Australian National Flag and the Aboriginal Flag were then raised by the Pretty Beach School captains for 2011, Lachlan Mackay And Elizabeth Payne. After the singing of the National Anthem and a ‘Toast to Australia’ led by MC Graeme Blundell, the crowd listened to addresses by the Mayor of Gosford, Cr Laurie Maher as well as by Cr Jim MacFadyen And the Gosford Australia Day Ambassador, 2009 Masterched winner, Julie Goodwin. The keynote speaker was Mr James O’Loghlin, well known ABC TV presenter of ‘The Inventors’.
Interspersed between the addresses was entertainment provided by Ken Tough, The Half Tide Rock choir led by Meg Toon and the trio Liss’n Sweetie.
After a Prayer For the Nation led by local identity Tom Jackson and a Citizens’ Affirmation Pledge, Liss’n Sweetie singers Helena Brunner & Margaret Brew led the crowd in singing ‘We are Australian’.
WTKCA conducted a raffle in aid of Pretty Beach School and the Red Cross collected for flood relief on the day.