Anais Seerungen and sister Alexandra enjoyed the range of activities at last year’s Greater Dandenong Australia Day festivities.
By Bridget Cook
41379
Pictures: Kim Cartmell
THE Greater Dandenong community will come together to celebrate the nation’s day of pride next week, with events organised around the city.
The City of Greater Dandenong has organised a range of free, family-friendly activities to take place in the city on Australia Day, Wednesday 26 January.
Events kick off at 9am with a free barbecue breakfast and children’s activities at Springers Leisure Centre in Cheltenham Road, Keysborough.
This will be followed by the much-anticipated Australia Day Concert at Dandenong Park, featuring live music, dancing and a free sausage sizzle.
This event will also host the Greater Dandenong Citizen of the Year Awards, with the winners announced on the day.
From noon visitors to Dandenong Park, in Pultney Street, will be entertained by the Batacuda Band – a group of high-energy percussionists who will enliven the crowd with their foot-tapping rhythms and circus skills.
The entertainment will continue from 1pm with more music and dancing from Blackberry Jam, a well-known Melbourne bush band, which will plays some renowned Aussie tunes and performs bush dances.
There will be plenty to keep children entertained with percussion workshops, kite-making sessions and face painting available on the day.
And it wouldn’t be an Australian bash without a free family sausage sizzle.
Free Australian flags will be available for attendees to wave proudly while sharing the spirit of the occasion with family, friends and neighbours.
Greater Dandenong mayor Roz Blades invites all residents to join in with the festivities.
“We are a culturally diverse community with 50 per cent of our residents born overseas,” she said. “Australia Day is a time when we can all come together to enjoy what is a special day for everyone in our community. The Concert in the Park is a fun way for the whole family to celebrate.”
