Australia Day

Australia Day

Australia Day 2025 is a day to reflect, respect and celebrate the Australian spirit and the best of this vast country; our mateship, our sense of community, our resilience; and looking to the future with optimism and hope. To celebrate Australia Day 2025, a number of ceremonies and events will be held around Lithgow LGA.

Lithgow City Council acknowledges the Traditional owners of this land, the Wiradjuri people

Lithgow Australia Day 2025 Ambassador – Astrid Hocking

A lifelong dedication to child protection, advocacy, and fostering positive change in the lives of vulnerable children. Her career has been marked by tireless work to ensure children are safeguarded from harm, and her personal journey reflects both a deep commitment to children and an unrelenting drive to create lasting, meaningful change.

Her experience as a foster carer for over 24 years, caring for 96 children, in which she shows compassion and commitment to making a difference in young lives. It’s clear that her passion extends well beyond just providing temporary care—she’s built relationships with many of the children and their families, staying connected with them even after the children have moved on.

As chairperson of Hearts and Hands Community Development, she has successfully integrated child protection into broader community consciousness through Umbrella Hearts. This initiative, focused on Child Protection Awareness, has made a real impact, even earning the recognition of National Child Protection Awareness Day in Federal Parliament. The Umbrella Hearts symbol, with its bright orange ribbons, represents her belief in the need to protect children, while also promoting happiness and optimism—values every child deserves.

Her tireless advocacy and lobbying efforts have also led to significant structural changes in the foster care system, including the establishment of an organization to train and support foster carers, something that was deeply meaningful to her. Even in retirement, she hasn’t slowed down. Her dedication to education, especially in childhood trauma, led her to undertake a Master’s degree, a lifelong commitment to learning.

Her volunteer work in an orphanage in the Philippines—rescuing children from trafficking —adds another layer to her advocacy, illustrating her international reach and compassion for children in need, regardless of borders.

Her mantra, “it’s not ok to hurt a child, every day it’s not ok,” reflects the core of her belief system.

On a more personal note, Astrid’s memories of Australia Day and her parents’ naturalisation ceremony, along with the Bible presented to them, symbolize a sense of history, continuity, and the deep connection she feels to her own immigrant roots. This adds a layer of richness to her life’s story, intertwining her personal heritage with her professional mission.

Astrid’s work and life demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to child welfare, and her story is a testament to the powerful impact one person can have in advocating for the rights and well-being of children everywhere.

The Lithgow Hearts and Hands Project

This Australia Day, a unique community art project will take shape in the rotunda in Queen Elizabeth Park as part of the Lithgow Australia Day community fair.

Local fabric artist Fiona Russell, of Mythika Studios, will create an installation of large, up-cycled fabric hands suspended across the bandstand, representing the diversity of our wonderful community.

Residents are invited to come along and be part of the fun. The Council encourages you to bring hands or hearts you’ve made at home or make one on the day to contribute to the art project.

Watch as the installation unfolds, weaving together our stories – through hearts and hands – to reflect our diverse and inclusive community.

Join us at Queen Elizabeth Park in Lithgow on 26 January from 10:30am-1:00pm to be part of the Australia Day fun!

Australia Day Events 

Lithgow

Official Ceremony Queen Elizabeth Park

9am – 10:30am  Mayor Cassandra Coleman will conduct the Citizenship Ceremony and present the NSW Local Citizenship Awards. The Official Australia Day speech will be presented by the Australia Day Ambassador.

10:30am – 1pm Join us for a Community Fair with performances, collaborative art activities, live music, free sausage sizzle and more!

JM Robson Aquatic Centre

10am – 4pm Free entry

Portland

12.00 noon Official Ceremony including local awards and Australia Day Address by Mayor Cassandra Coleman and the Australia Day Ambassador. Entertainment including displays, market stalls, children’s entertainment, BBQ and CWA refreshment room.

9am – 4pm Wolgan Street will be closed to vehicles.

Wallerawang

Wallerawang Community & Sports Club

10am Flag raising and National Anthem
10:30am Family entertainment
11am Official Ceremony and Australia Day Address by Cassandra Coleman and Australia Day Ambassador