AUSTRALIA Day celebrations across north-western New South Wales and the New England are less than two weeks away, with a diverse range of activities planned across the region.

At Narrabri, free entry to all shire swimming pools will be offered between midday and 6pm.

Narrabri’s Australia Day Ambassador is Professor Veena Sahajwalla, an internationally acclaimed materials scientist, engineer and inventor who is revolutionising recycling science.

Her accolades include being named NSW Australian of the Year in 2021. In 2025, she received an Order of Australia for distinguished service to science, innovation and community engagement.

At Boggabri, an Australia Day breakfast will be held at Boggabri Public School between 8am and 9am and a free barbecue lunch and family fun activities will be held Boggabri Memorial Swimming Pool from midday until 6pm.

The Crossing Theatre in Narrabri will host Australia Day Awards and an Australian citizenship ceremony between 10am and 12.30pm.

Later in the day, a family fun day will take place at Narrabri Aquatic Centre between midday and 6pm.

At Wee Waa, Australia Day breakfast and entertainment will be held at Wee Waa Presbyterian Church between 7am and 9am and a family fun day from midday until 6p will be held at Wee Waa Memorial Swimming Pool.

At Moree, the Australia Day Awards will be held at Jellicoe Park from around 8.30am, with a free breakfast supplied by Moree Lions Club, who will also present four members with special awards for 25 years’ service to Lions.

Nominations are now open for the Moree Plains 2026 Australia Day Awards and be lodged online HERE.

Council staff and volunteers will also have an information stall with nomination forms in various locations on Balo Street in the lead-up to Australia Day.

Moree mayor Susannah Pearse said the awards provide a chance to acknowledge community champions in the Moree shire.

“With so many worthy ambassadors within the Moree Plains, these awards provide a chance to acknowledge our community champions,” Cr Pearse said.

At Armidale, Indigenous earth artist Aunty Sharon Cutmore will feature at Australia Day celebrations.

An Anaiwan woman and artist, Ms Cutmore will create a stunning earth artwork as part of Armidale Regional Council’s Australia Day celebrations at the Dumaresq Dam Recreation Area.

Ms Cutmore’s work is renowned for its deep connection to Country, using natural earth and sand materials to tell stories that reflect culture, identity, and the environment.

Her art will form a central part of Australia Day activities, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience creativity grounded in tradition and respect for the land.

“Aboriginal culture is rich in storytelling, dance, and art – and the number one thing is family,” she said.

“When I create earth art, I’m expressing my culture and my connection to the land and the place where I come from.

“The design I’ve created for the day is about connection. It brings together all the towns and communities from across this area – big and small – to show how we are linked and united.

“This event can be a chance to bring everyone together. We want to share our stories, because Australia does have a black history, and we were here first. What happened to our people was very sad, and this is my way of telling my story and creating understanding.”

In the Tamworth region, communities will come together on January 26 with a range of bumper events, from morning barbecues through to an evening concert.

The concert, with a full line-up to be announced, along with fireworks, will round out the Australia Day events and provides an extra excuse for visitors to stay another night in the region following the conclusion of the Toyota 54th Tamworth Country Music Festival the day before.

Other Australia Day activities – barbeques, live music, cricket and games – will also be held around the Tamworth Region.

Tamworth Region mayor Russell Webb is thrilled to see so many events being held across the region for communities to enjoy.

“We have so many great events on Australia Day throughout the Tamworth region for people to attend,” Cr Webb said.

“It’s a chance for our towns and villages to come together for a moment of reflection and also celebration.”

Australia Day Awards ceremonies to recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to the community will be held at Tamworth, Barraba, Manilla and Nundle.

The Tamworth ceremony will also incorporate a citizenship ceremony where 97 new residents will be welcomed into the community, close to double the number of previous years.

The Barraba Australia Day Awards will take place from 6pm at the Barraba Golf Club. There will also be a barbecue and live entertainment, while the Bendemeer Hotel will host an official ceremony, entertainment and games from 10am until 4pm.

Kootingal and District Lions Club will co-ordinate a breakfast in Memory Park at 8am followed by an Australia Day address, games and live entertainment.

The Manilla Matters S355 committee has organised a fun morning for all at the Manilla Memorial Swimming Pool, with breakfast at 8am, followed by the Australia Day awards ceremony and kids’ activities from 9am.

Nundle will hold an Australia Day awards ceremony as well as live entertainment at the Nundle Bowling Club, starting at 7pm.

There will be plenty of options in Tamworth, with a 10am church service at the Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall followed by the citizenship ceremony and Australia Day Awards from 11am.

A barbecue lunch at 12.30pm will follow. At 7pm, a concert will kick off in Bicentennial Park with fireworks at 9pm.

The Woolomin Wombats Cricket Team will host a great day of social cricket and barbecue breakfast from 9am at the Woolomin Recreation Reserve.

Out west at Collarenebri, the community will come together to celebrate the spirit of the Walgett Shire and the remarkable people who make communities thrive.

Collarenebri Bowling Club will host a buffet breakfast from 9am, followed by the Australia Day Awards ceremony at 9.30am, where the outstanding achievements, contributions and dedication of individuals across Walgett Shire will be celebrated.

At Inverell, Emma Rossi has been announced as Australia Day ambassador.

Ms Rossi is a respected media professional, keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for women’s rights whose career spans journalism, government communications, and community leadership.

For nearly two decades, Emma was a familiar face on national television, reporting for news and current affairs, serving as a foreign correspondent, and presenting stories that reached audiences across Australia and around the world.

Her ability to inform and connect with viewers cemented her reputation as a trusted voice in Australian media.

Ms Rossi will attend the breakfast celebrations in Victoria Park Inverell, as well as the evening celebrations in Tingha.

At Bingara, Australia Day celebrations will be held between 10am and 2pm at Bingara Swimming Pool, featuring live entertainment by SixFold as well as a Lions Club barbecue and pool canteen.

Award-winning film maker and author, Anupam Sharma, has been confirmed as Australia Day ambassador.

Mr Sharma is widely credited with pioneering Australia’s relationship with Indian cinema and is recognised as among Australia’s 50 most influential film professionals.

Meanwhile, Moree mayor Susannah Pearse encourages residents to nominate people for this year’s awards in Moree by completing and submitting the online form at Australia Day Awards 2026 – Fill in form.

Hardcopy forms can also be collected over the counter at Council’s Customer Service in the Max Centre or from staff members on Balo Street over the next few days.

“Let’s come together to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions that make our community stronger and the Moree Plains such a great place to live,” Cr Pearse said.