Australia Day 2025 at John Wearn Reserve, Carlingford was a terrific success. A collaboration between the Rotary Clubs of Beecroft and Carlingford, with the support of a National Australia Day Grant, was a lovely community occasion in support of the theme "Respect. Reflect. Celebrate". Featuring a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country provided by Bush to Bowl, followed by our official Australia Day speeches by Rotary District Governor Niranjan Deodhar, Julian Leeser MP (Berowra), Dr Andrew Charlton MP (Parramatta). The National Anthem and "I Am Australian" sung by North Beats Music Academy student , Flag raising by North Rocks Scouts, and a closing speech by Daniel Dummer, President of the Rotary Club of Beecroft. (Carlingford Club President Martha Jabour OAM was noted as an apology due to her attendance at the National Australia Day Ceremony in Canberra). We were also pleased to have Deputy Mayor Cameron McLean, City of Parramatta, Clr Georgina Valjak and Clr Monica Tudehope in attendence. This year, a new feature was the wonderful Auslan interpretation by Yasmin, so that hearing impaired members of the community could also enjoy the program. At the close of the formalities Dan Romeo provided further musical entertainment, whilst the North Rocks RFS fired up the BBQ, Cakes by Jess and Triple Oh Coffee were kept busy. We also featured children's activities - face painting, giant bubbles, and indigenous animal painting to ensure the morning was of interest to all members of the community. A big thankyou to MC Michael Stuart-Watt, student volunteer Megha Easwar, and members of the organising committee - Fay Kitto, Robert Erskine, Jaythene Zimmerman, Greg Keighran, Russell Zimmerman, Daniel Dummer, Cristy Newall, Barry Wang and Trudy Stevenson. Volunteers who assisted with set-up and pack down on the day, and letterbox drops in the week prior are also greatly appreciated !



