Marysville proudly flies the flag

By Kath Gannaway
RISING temperatures and bushfires caused the cancellation of six of the eight planned Australia Day celebrations in Murrindindi Shire but at Marysville, the community rallied to fly the flag.
The Australia Day parade and other celebrations are organised by the local Lions Club and strongly supported by the local community each year.
“We elected to continue because we were not under fire threat and felt it would be inappropriate to hold it at a time other than Australia Day if at all possible,” Lions president, David Sebald, said.
The procession along Marysville’s leafy main street with community groups, floats and the flags of many nations flying side by side was a highlight of the day.
Australia Day ambassador, Olympic and Commonwealth Games weightlifter, Damian Brown, spoke about what it means to be Australian and entertained with anecdotes of his experiences at the elite level of the sport.
Mr Brown started weightlifting at 14, won gold at four Commonwealth Games and was a flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games . He represented Australia at three Olympic Games.
Local students Kate Neil and Lizzy Shelley led the community in singing the National Anthem and the popular I Am Australian.
The presentation of the Shire’s Australia Day Awards was held over due to bushfires but Cathedral Ward’s Cr Janet Gilmore read out the names of the awardees.
The late Tom Maunsell, a Marysville resident and Lions Club member was named Citizen of the Year for Cathedral Riding in recognition of his work with the Lions Club over many years. Mr Maunsell died last year.
Jean Laws was named Murrindindi Shire Citizen of the Year and individual riding awards also went to Christina Gorman – Cheviot Riding; Bruce Stonehouse – Dennis Riding; Donald McQueen – King Parrot Riding and Maurice Pawsey – Redgate Riding. Patrick Borg was recognised as Young Citizen of the Year.