This year’s event centres on the theme “The Great Aussie Backyard,” and will feature a range of free family friendly activities between 7.30am and 3pm.

Maitland City Council’s events curator Jess Hartigan said Australia Day is an important occasion to reflect on what makes our country such a wonderful place to live.

“It’s also a day to spend enjoying all the things we love about Australia and there will be plenty of opportunities to do exactly that at the celebrations in Maitland Park,” she said.

The day will kick off with a barbecue breakfast hosted by East Maitland Lions Club from 7.30am. This will be followed by a range of activities including backyard cricket, a Hills Hoist Apple Grab, a lawn mower obstacle course, a thong throwing competition and a classic car display.

Another highlight will be the announcement of citizen and junior citizen of the year.

Citizen of the Year nominations are: 

Anthony Milburn. Anthony is a farm hand that has helped Slow Foods Hunter Valley with the Community Food Project, that feeds around 150 people. He travels around the LGA and rescues produce that can be used for the project which helps people but also reduces food waste on our farms. He is also a member of the Salvation Army Emergency Food Program which helps provide meals to people affected by natural disasters.

Beverly Steggles. Born in Maitland, Bev has a strong connection with her family and has worked hard to take care of them. Bev has a philosophy based on ‘giving back’ and has been heavily involved in the Maitland Black and White Committee, World Vision, the building of the Op Shop at Beresfield/Thornton Anglican Church, and she is also the coordinator of the Samaritans GAPS (grandparents as parents) program. Bev also assists with other community initiatives including Mission Lunches, the Monday Club, book clubs and school awards.

Carol Connaughton. Working as a volunteer, Carol runs Maitland Regional Art Gallery’s ‘Conversations/Art and Dementia tours’ program. The tours are engaging and tailored to people living with dementia and their carers. The tours take place once or twice a week and Carol has been involved since 2013.

Craig McGregor. Craig is a familiar face in Maitland having been heavily involved in local business for over a decade. For the last two years he has been President of the Maitland Business Chamber and he has worked to modernise the chamber and engage the local community. Craig has been president of the Maitland Mustangs and has encouraged a range of local clubs to engage with White Ribbon Australia.

Danny Phillips. Danny is dedicated to addressing youth issues in Maitland and is passionate about equality and addressing mental health issues in the LGBTI community. Danny volunteers across the community and he has been a part of the Youth Reference Group at Headspace for a number of years. This year, as part of a fundraiser at Club Maitland City, he raised $2,000 to support the Samaritans Youth Accommodation in Maitland.

Donna George. For many years Donna has worked to raise awareness for sick children in the Maitland area. She organises fundraisers and events for the Starlight Foundation. She’s a hard working mother and also volunteered at Camp Quality where she now works full time.

Eileen Garry. Eileen Garry moved to Maitland in 1983 and started the fund raising market at the Anglican Church in Thornton, joined Maitland Meals on Wheels in 1996, is part of social events group MCCS and formed a computer club for seniors in 2006. She is a mother, grandmother and great grandmother who is renowned for her famous chicken soup.

Geoff Winsley. Geoff has volunteered with TAD Disability Services for 13 years and is the coordinator of the Hunter group of volunteers. He is passionate about mobility for people with a disability and helping to provide services and equipment that assists with their quality of life. He is particularly passionate about the Freedom of Wheels program which gives people with a disability the opportunity to ride a bike.

Georgina Grine. Georgina volunteers through fundraisers to help the less fortunate in Maitland. She has worked in the aftermath of many natural disasters, cooking and feeding SES volunteers, has raised money for the Rutherford Community Centre and assisted local families with their own challenges. Her passion for the community is inspiring to all.

Joseph Gollan. Joe has worked hard to create awareness of Carrie’s Place Domestic Violence and Homelessness Service and in highlighting the high prevalence of domestic and family violence in Maitland. Over a period of 12 months he worked extremely hard and organised the ‘Big Gig Variety Night for Carrie’s Place’, which brought together a range of diverse people and raised around $70,000 for the organisation.

Kevin James Short. Since retiring, Kevin has been heavily involved in the Maitland District Hockey Club. He has been Chairman of the Maitland Hockey Turf Association Inc and a self appointed curator of the Hockey Centre. He is a Church Warden at St Peter’s Anglican Church and has been heavily involved in the Maitland District Historical Society.

Max Fitzpatrick. Max has served the youth of Maitland through sport for many years. He has been president of the East Maitland Parents & Old Boys for about 17 years, and he supports young talent and helps financially where he can. For 28 years he travelled with junior footballers to compete in places like Ipswich, Queensland, and is always looking for ways to help improve junior sport in Maitland.

Patricia Munton. When she moved to Maitland in 1982, Pat joined the Millers Forest Progress Association where she has helped with improving the local hall, managing bookings and ensuring it is well maintained. Pat is a foundation member of Millers Forest/Duckenfield Rural Watch, was involved in the Morpeth Medicine Charity Horse Ride and, for the 19th time, she will cater for the Riding for the Disabled Ball in 2017.

Paul Clyne. Paul has worked to provide free IT equipment to aged pensioners, domestic violence victims and those who are less fortunate in Maitland. Volunteering his own time and money, he has refurbished more than 130 computers which along with helping local people, has reduced the impact of e-waste on the environment.

Peter Hodgson. Peter Hodgson has helped to raise thousands of dollars for people in Maitland. In 2015 he rode a bike from Brisbane to Maitland to raise $20,000 for a local girl suffering from Lyme’s Disease, he facilitated the Dom Punch Fundraiser that same year, which raised $250,000, and he also started the Maitland Rugby Club’s Old Boys Club.

Tony Grace. Tony Grace is a senior sergeant with Maitland Police. In his 21 years of service in Maitland, Tony has shown deep respect for the local police force, the media and the public. His record speaks for itself.

Young Citizen of the Year nominees are:

Brittany and Kimberly Simmons. These sisters were founding members of the ‘service learning project’ between Hunter River Community School and Francis Greenway High School. The group visits the schools as part of a sports program which incorporates welfare issues. On countless occasions they have volunteered their time, assisting other students and teachers in various roles and they are also part of the Hunter River Community School Performance Troupe. Both sisters are always on hand to support students and teachers however they can.

Grace Ahrens. Grace has given five years of service to the St Johns Ambulance Australia. She has won individual awards for her outstanding presentation skills, her performance in education and she was the Edeline Jenkyn’s – State Cadet of the Year in 2016. She is a member of the Maitland Youth Committee, represented Maitland on the Women on Boards Meeting in 2015 and has also volunteered in the Red Shield Appeal.

John Leao. John is a student at All Saints College St Peter’s Campus and is part of the all boys choir ‘Mancellin’. He won writing awards in 2012 and has been publicity officer for the Woodberry Warriors Rugby League Club for some years. He was elected premier of the YMCA Junior Parliament in 2015, has raised money for White Ribbon Australia and went on a pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Poland last year.

Laurie William Mexon. Laurie is a Tocal College student who has volunteered during natural disasters and helped instigate a ‘flood readiness plan’ for residents of Millers Forest and Duckenfield. He has assisted with the Millers Forest Progress Country Concerts, joined the local progress association at 16 and assists with the Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea every year.

Sammy Seth. In her role as Youth Ambassador for the Multicultural Youth Affairs Network, Sally has met young migrants and refugees and launched a petition which pushes for more Intensive English Centres (IEC) to be set up in regional NSW. She is an advocate for lowering the voting age to 16 and has been an integral part of Youth Parliament for four years. She is a student of CHAKRA dance school, a community leader for the Oaktree Foundation and has won awards for her public speaking.