Australia Day was celebrated in Iluka at the Community Hall with over 100 people present.

The flag was raised by Iluka Public School Vice-Captain, Mikayla O’Dell, then we adjourned inside the Hall for the Acknowledgement of Country and the National Anthem. There was a bit of a technical hitch with the playing of the anthem, so it took an impromptu Rotary Club choir to lead the singing of the anthem. Councillor Karen Toms was there representing Clarence Valley Council and she presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Jo-Anne Kempshall, who was nominated by the CWA.

Over the years, Jo has been involved with the school P&C and the tuckshop and also the soccer. Her main interest since 2015 has been organising the ‘Girls Pink Night In’, raising funds for and awareness of women’s cancer, not only breast. Jo started this fund raising when her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since the start she has raised over $60,000.

Ian Russell was the MC and told the audience this event has been happening for over 30 years in Iluka, and among his many words he said, “this area has been blessed by nature, and also by its people”. Ian thanked the Iluka Woombah Rotary Club for its involvement in the whole morning, the and the Iluka CWA ladies for the morning of damper, with jam or syrup and tea or coffee or cold drink.

After the official program morning tea was enjoyed by all.

Jo Russell