Gallery | Girgarre’s early morning Australia Day

By Jemma Jones

Jan 28, 2025

It was double delight for Girgarre’s Citizen of the Year, Athol “Doc” McDonald, who has walked away from a week of celebrations with two titles in his hands.

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As early as 7am on Sunday, January 26, Girgarre’s volunteers were at Progress Park setting up for their annual Australia Day celebrations.

By 8.30am, the park had transformed into an outdoor theatre with chairs lined on the grass, an Australian flag at the ready on a temporary flagpole and a barbecue in full swing with eggs, bacon and snags pungent in the air.

Chairs filled quickly, with about 50 early risers making their way in – likely tempted by a free breakfast, but also to commemorate another year of being Australian.

The ceremony was hosted by interim president of the Girgarre Community Cottage, Glenn McCormack, stepping in for Kezia Talbot, who left the organisation in late December.

The flag was raised by Girgarre RSL members before the crowd stood as Advance Australia Fair rang out across the park.

Mr McCormack introduced Crs Adrian Weston and John Zobec who were attending this event along with many others during the course of the day.

Cr Weston stepped forward to thank everyone for attending and spoke about what it means to be Australian in Girgarre.

“The thing is it’s the people that make our communities and it’s the people that as a nation and make Australia such a great place to live,” he said.

Cr Weston then announced the Girgarre Citizen of the Year, asking Mr McDonald to accept his second award in the past week.

Mr McDonald has been a stalwart in developing Girgarre into a sustainable and self-sufficient community, spearheading the Gargarro Botanic Gardens project and inspiring a dedicated team of local volunteers.

He won the Campaspe Shire Citizen of the Year award earlier that same week on Wednesday, January 22.

Mr McDonald said he was just as surprised, if not more, that he had won the Girgarre Citizen of the Year award.

In his speech he said he went into a “state of shock” after winning the shire-wide award, and winning on Sunday felt no different.

“I chose to retire in Girgarre – rather than join our friends in Echuca – because of our love for the community, and it was the right decision for us – we love this town,” Mr McDonald said.

Journalist Jemma Jones was up bright and early for the event, capturing all things Australia Day in Girgarre.