AUSTRALIA Day 2015 in Tamworth, as across the nation on our national day, has the cheek to be irreverent, larrikin and laidback.
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As well there was a fair bit of music overhang, as Tamworth showed it still had an overflow of great energy to celebrate Australia Day yesterday, bookending the 10-day Tamworth Country Music Festival and rounding it off in style.
People were out and about at pools, parks and dams, playing cricket, eating off Australia Day plates and drinking out of Australia Day cups.
Some, like Darren Wilcox and all his bachelor and spinster mates who had attended the Tamworth Ute Show the day prior at Tamworth Showground, decided to go all out in Mr Wilcox’s paddock.
They strapped three gazebos together, marked out a cricket pitch, set up two splash pools for their children and barbecued up a storm from 6am, starting with lashings of bacon and eggs.
Mr Wilcox said the 15 utes and 20-strong gathering had attracted a fair bit of attention from passers-by, as people had been stopping to take photos of them.
“It’s probably the best one we’ve done for a while,” Mr Wilcox said.
All the cabins at Lake Keepit were booked out for the weekend and at least 200 people were on the foreshore enjoying keeping cool in the water as a storm brewed in the background around noon.
At the Scully Park pool complex in West Tamworth supervisor Chris Burke said at noon yesterday about 60 people were enjoying the free water slide and two jumping castles.
“I reckon it will get busier in the afternoon if we don’t get that storm (forecast),” he said.
At Anzac Park, families were busy setting up at the public barbecues and getting ready to enjoy themselves.
Tamworth woman Hayley Tindall, who was there with her three children – Marly (4), Zac (6) and Tessa (four months) – and father Andy Sonerson, said it was great to be able to relax.
“I just enjoy not having to be at work and spending time with family – that’s what Australia Day is all about,” she said.
“I think it is about national pride and being proud to be Australian – but being Australian is (also) about being active and outdoors and being able to have that freedom to spend with their families.”
Scott Smith and Cindy McCluand were in the park with their two children – Jayden (7) and Nicholas (11).
They were celebrating with the Rutter family – dad Justin and mum Christie and their three children, Jackson (11), Joseph (7) and Isabella (5).
“It’s a time to catch up with family and friends and celebrating Australia Day in style,” Mrs Rutter said.