Australia Day in Port Stephens is shaping up to be a low-key affair again this year with the current COVID-19 outbreak threatening to cancel community events.
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The Raymond Terrace Australia Day celebrations are expected to return to Riverside Park on January 26 but events traditionally held in Nelson Bay, Lemon Tree Passage and Karuah are in doubt.
Doug Cross said the Nelson Bay Australia Day committee, of which he is chairman, was unable to support the town's celebrations this year due to the risks posed to volunteers and their families, and was in talks with Port Stephens Council to either change the format of, postpone or cancel the event.
"[I] cannot provide sufficient risk mitigation to provide an adequately safe environment for my committee, participants and the public for the event to proceed under the current environment," Mr Cross said.
"We are also concerned about the negative publicity to our committee and council should this event become a 'super spreader' event, or worse someone dies as a result of catching the virus at our event.
"I am personally very disappointed with this outcome as it was only three weeks ago when I was starting to think that we may have the biggest crowd ever."
A formal decision on whether the 2022 event will go ahead in some capacity or not at all has yet to be made.
Pre-pandemic, the Nelson Bay community event attracted thousands of revellers to Neil Carroll Park for a day of activities, performances and celebrations.
COVID-19 health concerns and the restrictions in place in January 2021 saw the Raymond Terrace, Nelson Bay and Lemon Tree Passage Australia Day community events moved from the Port's parks to the aquatic centres for council and Rotary supported pool parties.
Karuah RSL hosted its Australia Day events at the club as usual last year, but with COVID-Safe measures. Events had been scheduled at the club for January 26 but were put on hold this week.
Last year's official Australia Day proceedings, the citizenship ceremony and presentation of the Port Stephens Annual Awards, was held at Medowie Social. It is typically held at the Raymond Terrace event.
A Port Stephens Council spokesperson told the Examiner on Tuesday that presently, the Raymond Terrace Australia Day event was the only community event scheduled to go ahead.
It is set to return to Riverside Park from 8am to 1.30pm on Wednesday, January 26.
"Council is partnering with the Rotary Club of Raymond Terrace to host a family fun day at Riverside Park, with a marching band, great Aussie barbecue, demonstrations by NSW Fire and Rescue and the Rural Fire Service, RAAF flyover, market stalls and lots more," the council spokesperson said.
"The day will also include a citizenship ceremony, where we will officially welcome our region's 17 newest Australians as they take the pledge in front of friends and family."
The annual awards, which formally recognises the "amazing efforts of groups and individuals from around our region", will also be held during the event.
Citizen and young citizen of the year for 2021 will be announced alongside sportsperson of the year, environmental citizen of the year and recipients of the Port Stephens Medal, Freeman of Port Stephens and Cultural Endeavour.
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