Binalup Festival a chance to celebrate Albany community and country

The Albany community will have another great chance to come to together to celebrate Australia Day on Thursday at the Binalup Festival. The Binalup/Middelton Beach foreshore will be a hive of activity throughout the day, starting with the traditional Citizenship and Awards Ceremony from 9am. World champion swimmer and nine-time Paralympic gold medallist Priya Cooper will act as the Australia Day ambassador to deliver the formal address. The annual community citizenship awards will also be bestowed upon worthy recipients who contribute to making Albany a thriving and welcoming place to live. The City of Albany has received eight nominations for the Citizen of the Year award — Geoffrey Rowland Bastyan, Lynley Harrison, Mandi Khan, Naomi Lake, Steve Marshall, Steve Sharp, Mich Tuffley and Tae Wood. Angus Bowles, Kore Ford and Harriet Varden have been nominated for the youth citizen of the year award. Ross and Shirley Anderson, John Bocian, Andrew Hook, Bob Rees and Mary Williams are in contention for the senior of the year title. The active citizenship award, bestowed upon a worthy community group or event, will be claimed by either the Free Community Christmas Luncheon or Healing Hands Wildlife Care. This year, 24 Albany residents will join a group of the newest Australians when they take the pledge of commitment in what is always a memorable occasion. After the ceremony ends at 11am, the festival will go into full swing with a range of performers set to take the stage through to 4pm. An inflatable obstacle course, mini golf, sand sculpting, bubble soccer, kites and dodgeball will be among the wide range of completely free activities on offer all through the day. The festival is the last in the City’s summer series of events, which also includes the the Christmas Pageant and the New Year’s Eve fireworks.