Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Australia Day In Blacktown

15 January 2020

From having breakfast with koalas to celebrating local heroes

and rocking out to live music, Blacktown City Council has

Australia Day celebrations covered.

Blacktown’s Australia Day begins with ‘Wake Up with the

Wildlife’ at Featherdale Wildlife Park, before continuing with 

a special citizenship ceremony and the announcement of the 

City’s Citizens of the Year.

The day concludes with a free Australia Day concert at The 

Rooty Hill.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said more than 

20,000 people are expected to attend Council’s Australia 

Day events.

“We all have been incredibly saddened by the devastating 

bushfires and I have been deeply moved by the generosity 

of our community in coming forward with donations of 

money, foodstuffs, equipment and their time,” Mayor 

Bleasdale said.

“That generosity of spirit and kind is what Australians do 

best and I encourage everyone to join us on 26 January and 

celebrate our pride in being Australian and living in this great 

nation.

“While Council has decided to cancel the Fireworks display 

out of respect for those who have lost loved ones and 

property in the bushfires, we still have a huge range of fun, 

family friendly and exciting events for people of all ages.

“The very popular ‘Wake Up With The Wildlife’ at 

Featherdale Wildlife Park kick starts the day’s program of 

events.” 

From 7 am, families will be having breakfast with the 

fabulous collection of Australian animals at Featherdale.

Bowman Hall in Blacktown will be the scene for a special 

Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony from 10.30 am where 

100 of Blacktown’s residents will become Australian citizens.

Following the ceremony, Mayor Bleasdale will announce 

Blacktown City’s Australia Day Award winners. 

Celebrations continue from 4 pm with the free Australia Day 

Concert on The Rooty Hill.

There will be free amusement rides and food stalls as well 

as live music performances headlined by the Choirboys, 

Shannon Noll, Dragon and tribute shows by The Oils and 

Anthems of Oz

Aussie FMX will also host three demonstrations at the event, 

featuring riders Zachary Mckenzie and Brodie Carmichael, a 

3x World Record Holder who in 2017 landed a World First 

Front Flip Superman at the Nitro World Games.

“I encourage families and friends to head down early to The 

Rooty Hill for our family-friendly, alcohol-free annual 

Australia Day celebrations,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

Event details

Wake up with the Wildlife Breakfast

7.00 am to 12.00 pm Featherdale Wildlife Park, Kildare 

Road, Blacktown (Unfortunately sold out).

Citizenship ceremony

10.30 am Bowman Hall, Campbell Street, Blacktown.

The special Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony will see 

more than 100 people become Australians on Australia Day.

Australia Day at The Rooty Hill

4.00 pm – 9.30 pm, The Rooty Hill, Church Street Rooty Hill.

Enjoy all the festivities of Australia Day 2020 at Council’s 

Australia Day Celebrations on The Rooty Hill. Including free 

amusement rides, as well as live performances by 

headliners Shannon Noll, the Choir Boys, The Oils Tribute 

and Dragon.

Stage Program

4.00 pm Anthems of Oz

5.00 pm The Oils Tribute

6.00 pm Choirboys

7.00 pm Shannon Noll

8.15 pm Dragon

In the event of extreme weather conditions, celebrations 

may be cancelled.

For more information on Blacktown City’s Australia Day 

celebrations and/or changed traffic conditions, 

visit www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au  or phone 9839 6000.

  

Thousands flock to the free Australia Day Concert at The 

Rooty Hill.

Best Results Of Fireworks Time for Blacktown City Council Since 2013 for Australia Day Event

The heading really covers what I wanted to say. Alright I provide my supporting statements to all of you.

Since 2013, I decided to video record the Blacktown City Council Australia Day firework events (I haven't researched if anyone else has done the same). So, for 7 years I have been recording, uploading on You-Tube. Then uploading on 'whyilovemountdruitt' blogspot and Face Book Page, since they were established. 

On my personal records of timing the Fireworks display: from start to finish, the highest recorded viewing time of 15 minutes and 23 seconds watch reached this year. Meaning that, in 2019  we have had the longest recorded time of  Blacktown Fireworks, since I have recorded, allowing the Blacktown LGA community members, to enjoy more viewing time.

I excluded band singing time from these videos. Here are the estimated times that I have recorded:

2013        12 minutes 25 seconds

2014        11 minutes 37 seconds

2015        12 minutes.  5 seconds 

2016        13 minutes   9 seconds

2017        13 minutes 50 seconds

2018        12 minutes 37 seconds

2019        15 minutes  23 seconds

With this in mind, a ten minute fireworks display would be as good enough for people to watch on an Australia Day Fireworks event. Anything extra is really an added bonus. Blacktown City Council must then be congratulated and be given the highest award for this extended time of display of fireworks event, allowing this to be increased for our viewing public community, especially over the last couple of years. Thank you to all Councillors and Council Officers, right from the Mayor, Councillor Stephen Bali.

With over 1,500 videos views, results are as follows viewing on You-Tube on each years fire works videos. Some years there was 2 recorded videos: I apologise for this to our community. Here they are:

2013 - So far 106 views - Click here to watch video

2014 - So far 164 views - Click Here to watch video


2015 -  So far 132 views - Click here to watch Part 2 video

2015 - So far 90 views - Click here to watch Part 3 video (Part 1 fireworks not included)

2016 - So far 190 views - Click here to Watch Part 1 video

2016 - So far 231 videos - Click here to watch Part 2 video

2017 - So far 325 views - Click here to watch Part 1 video

2017 - So far 85 views - Click here to watch Part 2 video


2018 - So far 212 views - Click here to watch video

2019 - So far 12 views - Click here to watch video


Click here for previous post

Blacktown City Council - Australia Day Fireworks Celebration 26th January 2019

This year, Blacktown City Council fireworks celebration and display for Australia Day, 26th January was well in line to be one the best events I have seen in many years of attending this event.

When we arrived on 'The Hill' at Rooty Hill there would have been no more than 10,000 people at the event around 6.30pm.                                                                                                  I was surprised that

parking was so easy. Normally, it is a struggle to park cars on The Hill. I was told from one of the Council spokesperson at the event - a lot of people would not be coming due to the extreme hot weather today. Temperatures reached a maximum of 38C at around 2.30pm and during the fireworks presentation dropped to a cooler 26C. Considering the day before reached to mid 40C, this was a slightly cooler day.

The Screaming Jets band was a well presented band, been playing publicly for over 30 years. Now entertaining our crowds just prior to the fireworks event. This was an exceptional choice of band to be playing at this event and well liked by some of the people I spoke to (mostly the older generation).h

Over the attendance at the seemed to be around the 40,000 to 42,000 - and were left standing happily with a brilliant presentation, although there seemed to be fires put out by the Fire And Rescue at the back of the sports field.

I thank, Our Mayor, Councillor Stephen Bali, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Tony Bleasedale, all Councilors of Blacktown City Council Click here for all details and our dedicated Council Officers that make our Australia Day - a special Australia Day that we want to keep.

Click here for original post on 'Australia Day' or 'Australians Day'


We must not forget that there was ample of activities available for community members of Blacktown Local Government area to be entertained with. From woodchopping Click here for Blacktown City Council - Wood Chopping activity, childrens amusements, show bags, food stalls, St John's First Aid, SWR FM and  free drinking water facilities.

What was impressive, noticing a Chief Inspector of Police actually walking through the crowds (by himself), checking that everyone was behaving well and went one step further to ensuring that as he passed everyone was in a 'happy' mood.  Usually,  I would have groups of 2 or more police officers randomly going through the crowds doing their job. The Chief Inspector was seen walking through the crowds at least half a dozen times - this is hands on policing that is needed. 

There was a lot of police presence,to make the event a happy and pleasant event to go too. Speaking to another Police spokesperson, there seem to be no major issues to report at the end of the event

Feel free to watch this years and last years video of Rooty Hill Fireworks Australia Day event, below:
Click here for Rooty Hill Fireworks 2019




Click here for Rooty Hill Fireworks 2018

Happy Australia Day - Mount Druitt Fire & Rescue Face Book Page

'Australian Day' Or "Australians Day" - What Is The Question?

I am not going to start a debate on this issue, but it really hurts myself as a first generation Australian that again we want to change our memorable happy day.  We, as Australians should be all included as 'Australians' not as separate Australians representing different parts of Australian history.

I am no more Australian as the child born today as Australian, the 10th generation Australian, the immigrant that became a naturalised citizen of Australian and even the Indigenous original Australian/ Torres Strait Islanders. I also do not class myself  as 'Australian' above any other Australians. We, each and everyone of us are Australians and should be treating each other as respected proper Australians, no matter what back we originated.

Click here for Wikipedia meaning of Australian

Understanding that 'Australia Day' is a celebration of our country being discovered and settled by the British Government of the Day, I now feel that this 'discovery' brought Australia to who we are today. That means that all of us Australians are included and Local Governments confirm that every time we have  celebrations for Australia Day.

We have started to celebrate 'Australia Day' in the early days as 1804 with 'First Landing Day' or ' Foundation Day' as from 26th January 1804, as when Caption James Cook placed the Union Jack on Australian soil on 26th January 1770. This was named by the white people of the day and was changed in 1935 in all States of Australia to 'Australia Day', so that all people within Australia is included. The public holiday of 26th January was recognised as from the year 1994.

Click here for history of Australia Day

So we have had our changes to accommodate our original indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. I always say to everyone who is Australian and thinks they are above others, 'Can you tell me if all Australians were standing and I asked them- will the true Australian please remain standing?' Who would be left?

We are the Australians of today not Australians of 1804 and having a discussions on Australia Day and the celebration of a nation coming together is good - there is nothing wrong with that. the thing that gets me is when people say ' we need a change Australia Day'. We now have a group of people wanting to change the date of Australia Day.

Click here for details from ABC Report to Change Australia Date

From Wayne Willington Face Book Page - Radio Announcer at Vintage FM Penrith and  comments:

Wayne Willmington

16 hrs · 

As Henry Ford once said “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is a success.” With that in mind I am trying to understand what the issue is around Australia Day. In my own opinion Australia Day is our countries National Day, a day where we all come together no matter what your race or culture is. It is a day to celebrate our nations success and for ALL to be involved, including our original owners of the land the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders. No matter what your beliefs are, culture, race or nationality, if you call Australia home why can’t we all come together as one to celebrate what a great nation Australia is and celebrate all our great success!

 

• Gai Hawthorn Well said 👏

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  Lester Pasley Well said. With the controversy about "Invasion Day" and changing the date, it doesn't matter what date is chosen for Australia Day someone or some Group is not going to be happy and will complain.

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  Michelle Adams 💯 % Agree 👏

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  Carol Bennett Agree 💯

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  John Svoboda I 100% agree with you. Another suggestion would be a slight change in the naming of Australua Day further include all people from within Australia to 'Australians Day'.....just a thought.

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  Col Colman Will never forget, and could never repay, the opportunities this wonderful country had given me since I arrived here at 7 years of age in 1952. Precious memories of growing up, in those school days. Surviving those days as a teenager. 

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•                Have a wonderful career in a number of locations. Blessed with a wonderful home and family. Show me
•                 another safe Country that there is no regular demonstrations and riots, where people do openly say 
•                 that they love their Country. We are so lucky. Show your appreciation of what we all have, and 
•                 celebrate on our Special day.....
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  Jo Dickens Well said wayne so right 😊

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  Steve Roddick Wouldn’t that be wonderful

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  Tina Solomons 100% true we are 1 of many

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Emma Husar It’s because the day commemorates the “landing” or discovery of Australia. And massacre murder /wage war on the First Nations people who already lived here.

Our white ancestors then dispossessed then of their land, made them work as slaves, removed their children, their food source and refused to let them into pubs/schools/to vote.

They then provided land grants for the white people, giving the FN people nothing. None of the wealth - that’s how you start to create intergenerational disadvantage.

It wasn’t until the successful referendum in the 60’s (ONLY 60 years ago) that they were finally recognised. That’s when we became one. So we should celebrate that day. 

Jan 26 is like dancing on the graves of the FN people. 

I celebrated Australia Day until I was about 15 from a girl I went to school with (bc schools don’t teach us about the MANY massacres that occurred). then I learnt the Indigenous history and never have I celebrated it again. 

May when the referendum was won or August when the legislative changes were made would be a better •National•day• 

We should also fix the flag and the anthem. To reflect the truth and recognise the systems created by our ancestors (that we all benefit from) and continue to disadvantage FN people with. 

No freedom til we’re equal.


*Editors Comments: There is no denial that originally  Australia Day celebrations were not meant for all Australians in 1804. There was a significant change us as a country in 1935 to be included as all people to celebrate Australian Day as 'Australia Day'.  The Anti-Australia Day advocates, raises a question 'Are they thinking about themselves or the people they represent from our society only?' Also, the thoughts they carry are they inclusive of all Australians - has to be asked?

In relation to white Australians massacre murders of  indigenous Australians/ Torres Strait Islanders, Mark Latham launching 'Save Australia Day' describes this as not describing  our true early Australiann history. Click here for Launch of Save Australia Day by Mark Latham

I could well ask our Australian Government Representatives over decades, why when we complete Australian Government Forms (does it ask after asking if you are Australian), if you are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background? Is this because they get preferential treatment from government departments compared to the other Australians'? I never hear any indigenous/ Torres Strait Islander person complain about this? Isn't this a form of discrimination against the rest of Australians?

Australian forms should be redesigned not to ask what type of  Australians we all are. We are Australians (no matter what background) and we should all unite as being the same Australian as much as your family, friends and neighbours are. No one should be a different Australian. 

 In my view if change was needed and desired  by the  Australian people, then change it to 'Australians Day' and leave the date as 26th January and as a public holiday. Let's enjoy this day of celebration today as a day of coming together, celebrating not just the country we are living in and is history, but the great Australian people we are and how important each of our contribution to this 'Great Land' is. Let us all stand up and be counted as 'One and all Australians'. 

Click here for I am Australian Song by The Seekers - This  really reflects our  history a beautiful song that  covers who we are all. (lyrics are included on the description of the video)

Click here for Australian National Anthem & Lyrics



In the meantime, here are the details previously published - Media Release from Blacktown City Council Australia Day Rooty Hill Celebrations today Click here

* The Editor is John Svoboda from 'whyilovemountdruitt' blogspot