Lynne Mowbray|

Australia Day was celebrated around the Clarence Valley on Sunday as flags were raised, billy tea and damper enjoyed, BBQs fired up and the odd coldie, consumed.

Activities at local clubs and pubs catered for fun loving Aussies, offering live music, barefoot bowls and even Ride-on Mower Time Trials, at the Harwood Hilton.

As the Clarence Valley settled in to enjoy their Australia Day, a strike force team of volunteer fire fighters from several Clarence Valley RFS brigades, headed out of the valley, to assist with fires burning on the NSW south coast.

Five trucks from Gulmarrad, Grafton City, Glenreagh, Minnie Water and Pillar Valley (including volunteers from other brigades) made up the Strike Force team, headed up by team leader Scott Campbell, of the Lawrence Brigade.

Over the years, our selfless Aussie volunteers have been the backbone of our communities and it’s their true blue Aussie spirit that makes Australia the lucky country that it is today.