IT was a full weekend of celebrations across Swan Hill and the region as the community joined together to enjoy Australia Day festivities.
Citizen of the Year awards were presented to winners at a ceremony on Friday evening at the Swan Hill Town Hall.
Receiving the municipality’s 2025 Australia Day Citizen of the Year award was Nyah West resident Vicki Allen.
Mrs Allen was recognised for her extensive community service across countless initiatives over many years and received the honour without even knowing she had been nominated.
She is both a life member and invaluable asset to the Nyah Nyah West United Football Netball Club, having dedicated more than 30 years to the club including 25 years as club secretary.
Mrs Allen has been involved in all aspects of the club from managing player registrations through to helping out in the coffee van.
Described by AFL Victoria in 2024 as “One of the best from Nyah West”, Mrs Allen’s dedication is well known throughout the Nyah-Nyah West community.
She has helped in organising and running numerous community events and projects, including her key role in organising the annual Nyah District Christmas carnival, her successful running of the Nyah fishing competition and her devotion to the Nyah West community garden.
In accepting the award, Mrs Allen shared her gratitude to the council and her community.
“I’d like to thank my family and the wonderful people of Nyah and Nyah West district,” she said.
“They stand with me and sometimes they think my ideas are quite crazy, but we work through things and work together.
“I think that is the most important thing, so thank you to everyone, thank you very much.”
Also being honoured at the ceremony was Robinvale Centenary Committee, which received the Community Event of the Year award for its five-day event highlighting the spirit of “small town, big heart”.
As part of Robinvale’s 100th-year celebrations, the committee united the community through a variety of festivities the council labelled a “once-in-a-lifetime event for residents, ex-locals and visitors”.
The celebrations were planned by the committee and drew attention from far and wide.
His Majesty, King Charles III sent a letter of congratulations to Robinvale on its anniversary.
There was no recipient for this year’s Young Citizen of the Year.
Swan Hill Mayor Stuart King also announced Australia’s newest citizens, presenting 20 people with their citizenship certificates.
Australia Day celebrations kicked off on Sunday morning with an Australia Day breakfast event at Riverside Park in Swan Hill.
Hundreds of residents enjoyed a free breakfast and entertainment organised by the Swan Hill Rotary Club, and breakfast was cooked by dozens of volunteers.
Starting at 7am, the crowd swelled throughout the morning with some residents dressing head to toe in their Australia Day gear and waving flags.
Swan Hill Ukulele Group took the stage to play some Aussie classics as the community took the time to enjoy the perfect weather and company of friends.
Later in the day, the Shared Connections event got under way at Riverside Park between 6pm and 10pm.
Members of the Aboriginal community came together to perform traditional songs and dance.
The event featured the Marruk Project Choir performing with attendees encouraged to sign the possum skin cloak.
For more on the Shared Connections event and other Australia Day celebrations across the region, pick up a copy of Friday’s The Guardian.
