Richie Benaud Becomes ‘Lambassador’ for Australia Day Lamb Campaign

Richie Benaud is spruiking lamb for Australia Day this year. Picture: Damian Shaw

HE’S been the recognisable dry, voice of Australian cricket for decades, now Richie Benaud will be lending his vocal talents to the Aussie lamb industry.

The national treasure is joining Sam Kekovich as a ‘lambassador’ for this year’s Australia Day lamb campaign.

Benaud has been missing from the Channel 9 commentary team this summer as he battles skin cancer, but he’s found time to implore Aussies to celebrate Australia Day with some chops and cutlets.

“To me, Australia Day is the perfect excuse to get together with friends and family over a BBQ and tuck into some delicious lamb chops,” Benaud said.




Sam Kekovich will have some competition at his lamb barbecues now. Picture: Stuart Quinn

Kekovich has become synonymous with the lamb campaign, while this is the first campaign involving Benaud.

“Just like cricket, the annual lamb campaign is synonymous with Australia Day and I’m thrilled to be part of it in 2015,” Benaud said.

Meat & Livestock Australia spokesman Michael Edmonds said Kekovich and Benaud would form a brilliant team.

“We are very proud of how previous campaigns have captured the nation’s attention over the past 10 years,’’ Edmonds.

“For 2015 we wanted to evolve the campaign and it was only fitting to have one of Australia’s most treasured icons, Richie Benaud join Sam on his annual crusade to get Aussies together over lamb on Australia Day.”

Jessica Mauboy Celebrates Launch of free Australia Day Concerts at Sydney Opera House

The iconic Opera House will serve as the picturesque location for Australia Day celebrations in 2015.

To amp up the atmosphere, two free concerts will be held on January 26 with approximately 7,000 free tickets available to the public via ballot.

Popular children's group The Wiggles will be one of the main acts on the festive day, with another concert consisting of favourite Aussie performers, including Jessica, Justice Crew and Geronimo hit makers, Sheppard.

Actress Jessica has already performed at the Opera House and has fond memories of the venue.

'It was of course where the Australian Idol Grand Final took place in November 2006 and it was on the steps of the Sydney Opera House that I performed my first Number One single Burn,' the former reality TV star recalled.

'To be invited back to this amazing Australian landmark to perform is a wonderful opportunity.'

Justice Crew also have an interesting link with the location, having previously busked outside the famed structure.

'One of our first career highlights was to actually be invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House as Janet Jackson’s opening act,' the group revealed.

'To be at the Sydney Opera House on Australia Day is a real magic moment and we will rise to the occasion with our performance!

Jessica is no stranger to public performances, having recently put on an energetic show at the ARIA music awards last month.

Putting her powerful voice to good use, the musician took to the stage in a strapless blue jumpsuit covered in sequins.

She performed her latest hit Can I Get a Moment, which has achieved gold sales in just over a month.

Despite her star status, Ms Mauboy failed to take out any awards after being nominated for Album of the Year, Best Female Artist and Best Video.

Although she didn't walk away with a trophy this year, Jessica took out Best Female Artist last year and Highest Selling Single for Running Back in 2009.

Celebrate Australia Day 2012 at all Ipswich Swim Centres

IPSWICH Australia Day Celebrations will be extended from Bundamba Swim Centre to all Council owned pools as part of the extended flood recovery.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said it was decided just last week to extend Australia Day celebrations throughout Ipswich as part of the recovery from last year's devastating floods.

"Free family fun days will be held at all Swim Centres although the smaller pools at Leichhardt, Goodna and Rosewood will have entry numbers controlled to a maximum of around 250 for safety reasons.

"We commemorated a year of recovery from the flood last week with the unveiling of two monuments and this is just something we felt we could do for the community on Australia Day."

Parks, Sport and recreation Committee Chairperson, Councillor David Morrison said Australia Day celebrations had been held at Council Swim Centres since 1997.

"These celebrations have normally taken the form of a community pool party at Bundamba Swim Centre where up to 1600 people have enjoyed the free community activities.

"It is great to this year be able to extend this to the other Council owned swim centres.

"The basic objective has always been to showcase the Ipswich City Council's swim centres and an active community in the city.

"It displays to the community that Council is interested in providing and operating well-maintained centres that encourage leisure patronage as well as competitive use."

Cr Morrison said the Australia Day celebration in 2011 was supported by Ipswich City Rotary Club and a number of sponsor companies donating goods on the day which were used as give-aways.

"Although the major celebrations will remain at Bundamba where around 1600 people turn out each year, the lessees at Goodna and Rosewood and Leichhardt have agreed to include their centres in Australia Day celebrations as well.

"The smaller pools have offered the community free entry on Australia Day in the past with huge success, but I hope more people join in the true blue celebration of the event this year with prizes on offer nearly all day as part of the flood recovery effort."

Cr Morrison said the pool lessees were offering some tremendous prizes on the day.

"We have some wonderful swim centres across Ipswich and these are absolutely wonderful incentives and reason enough for anyone to turn up at the pool on Australia Day, January 26."

A to Z of Event Ideas for Australia Day

A to Z of Event Ideas for Australia Day

Here are a few more ideas of things to do to make your Australia Day celebrations even more exciting.

A - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance festival, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Welcome to Country, Affirmation ceremony, Afternoon tea, Animal farm, Arts and crafts exhibition, Athletics, Aussie slang contest, Australiana quiz

B - Balloon art, Basketball competition, Battle of the bands, Bazaar, BBQ-s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, Beer can regatta, Billy boiling competition, Billy tea and damper feast, Billycart races, Birdman rally, Boat race, Boomerang throwing, Bowls tournament, Breakfast, Bush dance, Bush picnic, Bushman's relay, Bush regeneration day, Bush tucker tasting, Bush walking tour, Buskers

C - Cat competition/judging, Celebrity dunking, Celtic festival, Chinese lion/dragon, Chocolate wheel, Church services, Citizen awards, Citizenship ceremony, Civic reception, Clowns, Coach rides, Collage, Colouring-in competition, Concert, Coo-ee competition, Cow pat bingo, Cricket match, Croquet

D - Damper cooking, Dance display/competition, Debating, Disco, Dog competition/judging

E - Eating competition, Egg and spoon race, Emergency services open day/display, Essay competition, Exhibitions

F - Face painting, Family tree displays, Fashion parade, , Film festival, Fire engine rides, Fire service demonstrations, Fire station open day, Fireworks, Fishing competition,
Flag raising ceremony, Flyball demonstration, Food and wine festival, Fun run, Futuristic day

G - Garden competition, Golf tournament, Greyhound racing, Gumboot throwing

H - Harness racing, Hat competition, Heritage walk, Historical building tour, Historical display, Horse racing, Horse shoe tossing, Horse shodding display

I - Ice scuptures, In-line skating demonstration, Invite your local member, Iron man/woman competition

J - Javelin throwing, Jelly bean guessing competition, Jelly mould competition, Jumping castles

K - Kite flying competition, Kayak races, Kid's relays, Kindness awards, Kilt fashion parade, Knitting competition/display

L - Lamington making, Lamington throwing, Line dancing, Lion dance, Literary awards, Local legends (explore history and recognise local achievers) Lucky dip, Lucky door/gate prize

M - Meat pie eating competition, Merry-go-round, Morning tea, Mouse racing, Multicultural food, Model car/aircraft exhibition, Movie screening, Mural, Music festival

N - Needlecraft display, Noodle market

O - Old time dancing, Open gardens, Outback concert, Oz quiz evening

P - Parade, Pavlova making demonstration, Pet show, Photographic display, Picnic, Poetry readings, Pony rides, Pool party, Public speaking competition, Pumpkin bowling, Puppet show

R - Raft race, Re-enactments, Relays, Republicans vs monarchists cricket match, River procession, Rock climbing wall, Rodeo, Rolling pin toss, Rubber duck races

S - Sack races, Sandcastle building competition, Sao eating competition, Sausage sizzle, Scarecrow building, Shearing demonstration, Sheepdog trials, Shief tossing competition, Show jumping and dressage, Shovelling competition, Singing, Skateboarding demonstration, Skydiving, Sporting competitions, Stalls, Story-telling, Street theatre, Stroll through park, Surf carnival, Swimming carnival, Swimming relays

T - Talent quest, Ten-pin bowling, Thong throwing, Three-legged race, Time capsules, Touch football, Treasure hunt, Tree planting, Triathalon, Tug-of-war, Twilight concert

U - Up hill race, University vs TAFE sporting matches, Ukulele demonstration

V - Vegetable sculptures, Vintage car display, Volleyball

W - Water slide, Welcome to Country, Wheelie bin races, Whip cracking, White elephant stall, Wood chopping, Wooden horse race, Wool bale rolling

X - Xylophone demonstration

Y - Yabby catching competition, Yarn spinning, Yo-yo competition

Z - Zodiac quiz