Community events set to mark 26 January – Australia Day

The City of Ballarat will mark 26 January Australia Day by presenting a range of community events. 

The events will start on Wednesday 25 January with the 2023 Community Awards to celebrate the achievements and contributions of our outstanding residents. 

Thursday 26 January will begin with the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony at Lake Wendouree, before the private Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at Civic Hall, with the day then rounded out with the Picnic in the Park at Victoria Park. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said Council was seeking to find the right balance to the day. 

“We acknowledge that for many people it is a difficult day and it is important we never forget that,” Cr Hudson said. 

“We have listened to many different people in our community and will continue to listen and engage with them going forward. 

“We encourage everyone to be respectful of other’s opinions – that’s what makes Australia such a great place to live.” 

Survival Day Dawn Ceremony 

The Survival Day Dawn Ceremony will be held for the fourth time since its inception in 2020. 

The Koorie Engagement Action Group (KEAG) invites everyone to the ceremony to be held from 5.30am at View Point, Lake Wendouree. 

The dawn ceremony commemorates Sovereign First Peoples who fought in the frontier wars and those who died in widespread massacres across Australia during colonisation, which began on January 26, 1788. 

The January 26 Survival Day Dawn Ceremony also aims to remember the Stolen Generation and to bring the community together, to start the day off on a meaningful, healing, and respectful journey. 

Picnic in the Park 

Picnic in the Park, the latest addition to the City of Ballarat summer events calendar, is set to return to Victoria Park on Thursday 26 January (Australia Day).   

The event will run from 11.30am-3.30pm and will be located at the Victoria Park sporting ovals, opposite the Inclusive Play Space on Oak Avenue. 

The free community event will feature great food, market stalls, kids’ activities and entertainment, making for a guaranteed relaxing afternoon. 

After a popular inaugural event in 2022 that saw about 3,000 people attend, it is hoped an even bigger crowd will turn out for the second installment. 

Civic recognition and ceremonial activities  

The City of Ballarat also celebrates the Ballarat community by recognising their outstanding achievements with its 2023 Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Event of the Year at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 25 January.  

The winners of these awards will be announced at the ceremony, which is an exciting event for the nominees and their families.  

The City of Ballarat will also conduct an Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs to mark the occasion, where about 80 new citizens will be welcomed from 21 countries at the ceremony on Thursday 26 January.  

The Citizenship Ceremony marks the final step in the journey to becoming an Australian citizen. Citizenship Ceremonies bring important rights and responsibilities for new residents, including the right to vote, stand for public office and to travel on an Australian passport. This personal event is a significant experience for new Australians and their family members.  

Both ceremonies are private and invite-only.