Despite doubt Bairnsdale would host an Australia Day service only a few weeks ago, Bairnsdale Classic Car Club held an exciting and patriotic Australia Day ceremony at the Rotunda.

The biggest town in the region joined Lakes Entrance, Paynesville, Lindenow, Omeo, Bruthen, Orbost and Cann River in hosting breakfasts and award ceremonies on Saturday morning.

The Bairnsdale celebrations included a flag raising led by Army cadet, Stephanie Curtis, Jayden Curtis (flag waver), Bairnsdale scout, Alex Bagust (flag waver), Max Curtis (president of the Bairnsdale Classic Car Club), mayor of the East Gippsland Shire, Cr Natalie O’ Connell, and Pepe Petrovich (secretary of the Bairnsdale Classic Car Club), while the region’s young citizen of the year, Torin Troy, was a guest speaker.

The off-again, on-again celebration breakfast at the Rotunda was organised in great haste by the Classic Car Club and the community spirit-minded East Gippsland Shire staff member, Mr David Radford. The event was a great success and the car club are already planning next year’s event.

The Curtis family featured well on the day with Jamie Curtis singing a few Slim Dusty songs while playing the guitar, while grand daughter of Max Curtis, Stephanie, helped raise the Australian flag as Max played the gum leaf and later reflected at the microphone on his early life in Bairnsdale.

Max passionately and fondly referred to Bairnsdale as “his town” since 1956. He recalled how Bairnsdale had at one stage timber mills on the outskirts, the old Post Office scales, the silent policemen, the old butter factory, tannery, and the old picture in Pyke Street (now Cremin Hall).

The weather was kind to the event and all who attended appreciated the good work of the Bairnsdale Classic Car Club, supported by the Gippsland Classic Car Club.

Classic Car Club member, Bob McCoy, was excited the club had taken the event on as he had recognised the barbecue used on the day was the same one constructed many years ago for Apex when that club initiated the event.

East Gippsland Shire welcomed 18 new citizens at a citizenship ceremony held at the council chambers. Those becoming citizens hail from Iran, Egypt, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Philippines, India and Scotland (more in Wednesday’s East Gippsland News).

PICTURED: Blair, Flynn and Ethan Roscoe, Tom Dicorato and Kristy Marshall, of Traralgon, were happily waving their Australian flags on the Paynesville foreshore at the town’s Australia Day celebrations on Saturday.