Awards, rides, performers, food and fireworks – Greater Dandenong’s Australia Day Festival had it all.
The celebration in Dandenong Park on Thursday 26 January also included a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony from Wurundjeri elder Aunty Diane Kerr.
“It’s important that we come together and we celebrate,” she said.
Festival-goers applauded Australia Day Award recipients for their outstanding contributions to the community.
Vajira Ekanayake was in hospital and unable to accept his Community Hall of Fame Award that his daughter Ruwanie said had given him “a bit of light”.
“He thinks he was born to help people in the community,” she said.
Ruwanie said he’d organised annual medical seminars to encourage people to be proactive about their health, put on Christmas carols for Monash Medical Centre patients and championed the Red Cross.
“Because of his longstanding health conditions he’s always found ways to give back within his capability,” she said.
“He’s a great example of how you can really do so much even when you’re going through a tough time.”
Former Dandenong Cricket Club president Ross Hepburn was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame and Big Bash League cricketer Sophie Molineux was named Sports Person of the Year.
Volunteer of the Year Celine Tauro has for 13 years donated her time to the Too Low in English program, organised through St Mary’s parish in Dandenong. She was unable to attend the ceremony.
Multicultural Award winner Atiq Abed was overseas so his brother and parents accepted the award on his behalf.
His paid employment at AMES is complemented by extensive voluntary work with South East Community Links, a research project for the Burnet Institute that develops cross cultural sport teams and learn-to-drive mentoring.
Also read Corporate Citizen of the Year Ron Anson’s story.
