Blue skies hovered above on a morning where a light chill was in the air.
Cockatoos squawked and joggers pounded the pavement while they passed as the sun rose over Echuca.
Hopwood Gardens was the venue for Echuca’s Australia Day celebrations.
A crowd of about 400 people were in attendance for a busy morning.
Campaspe Shire welcomed its newest Australian citizens.
To borrow a line from the song I Am Australian — “from all the lands on earth we come”.
They did just that.
From Egypt, from Myanmar, the Philippines, France, India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Taiwan, Thailand, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Vietnam.
Now they are Aussies, and the pride from friends and family in the audience was clear to see.
But Australia Day is also a time for reflection.
In welcoming all in attendance to country, Uncle Rick Ronnan shared an important perspective.
“I’d like to welcome everyone to this Australia Day event for 2023,” he said.
“I said to (Member for Murray Plains) Peter Walsh that we should leave the date, but change the wording to Australian Welcome To Country Day.
“I’d like to have a sausage with you, but today is not a day for our people to celebrate.
“We’ve got the best country in the world, we’ve got to get on with ourselves.
“I’d love to thank the Rotary Club of Echuca for their tireless efforts in manning this event and also the Campaspe Shire Council.
“Enjoy your day.”
A bacon and egg roll cooked by the volunteers from the Rotary Club proved a breakfast winner, washed down with a bottle of water.
The wonderful sounds of the Echuca Federal Band rang out over the gardens before Georgina Bish delivered two rousing renditions.
The first was Advance Australia Fair before she returned later in the morning to sing the timeless classic I Am Australian.
The crowd looked up in the skies above as a flyover from five members of the Echuca Aero Club, led by Chris Kinnane, added to the festivities.
Members of the 1st Echuca Scout Group brought in an Australian and Aboriginal flag, which flew at full mast above the gardens.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell was in attendance and together with Campaspe Shire Mayor Rob Amos, and councillor Tony Marwood, played important roles in the formal part of the festivities.
Cr Amos in his speech recited words from Dorothea Mackellar and Adam Lindsay Gordon before speaking of Echuca’s spirit in coming together during the recent floods.
Each of the country’s newest Australians were presented a certificate and a native plant before reciting the pledge of allegiance.
“A huge welcome from all of us,” Cr Marwood said at the completion of the citizenship ceremony.
That set the stage for the Echuca and district award winners with Sarah Peake (Citizen of the Year), Cameron Barnes (Young Citizen of the Year) and EMFM (Community Group of the Year) recognised for their outstanding contributions.
Australia Day Ambassador Ian Maddison, a former Campaspe Shire Mayor, shared his thoughts as he addressed the crowd.
And with that, the chance to mingle, pose for photos, soak up each other’s company and enjoy what makes this country so great.