HASTINGS residents and visitors turned out en masse to support activities over the Australia Day weekend, with official activities and a variety of fun events staged throughout the region.
People wore Aussie hats, poked flags through car windows and even draped themselves in the flag to show their pride at being an Australian.
Others just enjoyed indulging in the many different foods, beverages and activities on offer.
One of the highlights was the Citizen of the Year and Community Group of the Year awards on Saturday night at Town Green in Port Macquarie, a lead-in to the markets and many events there on Australia Day itself.
Category awards went to Ahlia Westaway-Griffiths for Young Citizen of the Year, Allyson Costanzo forCitizen of the Year, Laurie Barber for Senior Citizen of the Year and the iKew Visitor Information and Community Hub for Community Group of the Year.
Senior citizen Laurie Barber, who writes the My Word column in the Independent, said he was very proud to be nominated and even prouder to win.
“Every year we come up with different people to nominate, but there are many other quiet achievers out there and we take them for granted,” he said.
“Next year it would be wonderful to see more people nominated.
“I planned to nominate someone this year and didn’t get around to it, but I definitely will be doing so next year.
“I’d urge everyone who can to nominate someone they know.”
A long-time Rotary member, Mr Barber also urged all retirees to become actively involved in their community.
“A lot of people come to Port Macquarie to retire and think they have done their bit in life, but there is a heck of a lot more they can do,” he said.
Mr Barber also believes the Hastings is the best place in the world to live.
“I’ve been to many countries and this is the best by far,” he said.
Other events to hit just the right note included the Oyster in the Vines at Cassegrain winery on Australia Day, which offered a hard-to-resist mixture of oysters, gourmet pizzas, live music, artists markets and Cassegrain wine.
Hundreds also attended the open day at the Douglas Vale homestead and vineyard on Saturday, enjoying a tour of the historic building, free wine tasting, home-made scones and snapping up a bargain at the jumble sale.
The Australia Day weekend marks the end of the traditional summer tourist season in the Hastings, with the new school term starting this week in most NSW schools.
***:POINTERS***
Australia Day awards in full – page 4 and 5.
Oysters in the vines – page 12.
