Australia Day provides communities, families and friends the oppertunity to get together and celebrate

Australia Day provides communities, families and friends the oppertunity to get together and celebrate in a wide range of ways.

The following is a list of some of the more creative things you, your family or your community can do in the lead up to and on Australia Day itself.

Anthem Singer competition (for Flag Raising/Citizenship ceremony etc.)
Photography competition (local library may display, local paper may print, local radio may add to their website)
Colouring in competition for small children (local paper may run this )
Australia Day Trivia Quiz (possible to team up with a local club, could run in conjunction with local paper)
Australia Day Crossword (could run in conjunction with local paper)
Comedy debate (best before Australia Day rather than on the day itself, so it can be a bit irreverent)
Poster design
‘Best Australian Sound Picture’ music from natural objects (sticks, gum leaf, grass, seedpods)—small scale event for a street corner maybe
Most creative use of flags (See Flag and Flag Raising Tool) such as bike decoration, mural, mobile, cake decoration, apron, costume
‘Old sports’ oriented Australia Day activities focusing on local (benign!) rivalries—between towns/localities/sporting groups/clubs/schools/ businesses/
Tug of war
‘Fire fighter’ relay
Tractor pulls
Human machines/Iron man/Iron woman
Water sports
Debates
Sports orienteering
Best Australia Day Hat
Best Historical costume
Best Australia Day Contemporary costume
Best Under 10s dress up
Innovative use of Australiana, the flag (within appropriate guidelines for representation of the flag) or other means of interpreting the theme
Bring a new friend to the Breakfast
Bring a grandparent to the Flag Raising
‘Adopt’ a new Australian on the day
Demonstration /peer teaching/workshops on culturally specific musical instrument
Demonstration /peer teaching/workshops on a culturally specific or game or sport
‘Spicing it up’ using the mortar and pestle (workshop or demonstration)
‘Find it and try it’ bush tucker (needs Indigenous guide)
Community poster with images made by various people (theme suggested) using charcoal of a burnt stick or finger painting or bark
‘Aussie Voices’ concert with multicultural performers
Youth bands are always a good start
Local idol talent quest
‘Rap up Australia’ competition
Air guitar competition
Guitar design competition (specify Australian component—use cardboard guitar template)
Young vs Old events (trivia, local Australia Day version of Spicks and Specs, knitting a scarf)
‘Still call Australia Home’ construction challenge with found materials—construct a shed or small building
Multicultural food stalls
Community picnic / barbeques
Cooking demonstrations
Cooking competitions
family concerts
concerts targeting particular groups
concerts catering for specific interests (rock concert, country and western, folk and blues) Need to involve people experienced at doing this