Australia  Day 2025 Celebrations

The District Council of Yankalilla’s Australia Day celebrations were an outstanding success, with over 200 attendees gathering at the Village Green in Normanville. Hosted by CEO Nathan Cunningham and Mayor Darryl Houston, guests were entertained by Australia Day Ambassador, Mr John Shepherd, who served as the guest speaker for the day and shared his personal reflections on what it means to be Australian.

The proceedings were once again graced by a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem, led by local resident Wendy McPhee. Wendy also shared her original Acknowledgment of Country song, educating the audience on the difference between an Acknowledgement of Country and a Welcome to Country.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Citizen of the Year Awards, recognising outstanding individuals for their contributions to the community. Additionally, we were very pleased to welcome three new Australian citizens to the community.

Mayor Houston took the opportunity to express his gratitude to Council and community volunteers for their hard work and dedication, particularly those who have given extended years of service.

As the celebrations drew to a close, Wendy McPhee returned to the stage alongside fellow local artist Corey Stewart, entertaining the crowd with live Australian music. Families enjoyed a sausage from the traditional Lion’s sausage sizzle, played yard games and children were thrilled by the talented face painter Julia, who was a crowd favourite.

Thank you to Janey Fowler from Koa Photography for capturing the essence of the day through her wonderful images.

We also extend our appreciation to the Australia Day Council for the $15,000 grant received to help fund the event. $5,000 of this funding was specifically allocated to be used for significant cultural elements, enabling the professional recording of Wendy McPhee’s Acknowledgment of Country song, accompanied by Phil Noel on the yidaki.