MANILLA celebrated Australia Day by recognising ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
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Australia Day ambassador, broadcaster Paul Murray, told the large crowd at Manilla Memorial Swimming Pool it was about celebrating community achievements.
“Every time you smile at somebody else, you strengthen that community,” Mr Murray said.
“Every time you shake someone’s hand, you strengthen that community. Every time you welcome somebody to this community, you strengthen this community.
“And just as individuals are a link in the chain, communities too, are a dot on the map, a dot on the map, a dot on the map – until you pull out and you see a city, you pull out and see a state, you pull out and you see a country.”
That sense of community was served up on a plate when dozens of locals got involved in the great damper and Anzac biscuit cook-off.
Ruth Buckler took out the damper competition for the second consecutive year – and the secret is simple.
“Just chuck it all in,” she laughed.
Young gun Patrick Ferguson, better known as the ‘Thriller from Manilla’, took out Young Citizen of the Year for his achievement in the sport of rodeo. Vet, muso and all-round community man Kym Hagon took out Citizen of the Year, while Road Safety Park was named community event of the year.
The ceremony closed with a splash, as locals competed for the coveted golden flipper swimming relay race.
