Mayor's Community Message
21 January
AUSTRALIA DAY
I’m inviting the City of Ryde community to join me at Meadowbank Park on Monday 26 January for Council’s Australia Day Celebrations.
The festivities begin at 4.00pm and will include a range of free activities and workshops, a thong throwing competition, live entertainment from local performers and a jam-packed finale, concluding with a spectacular 9.00pm fireworks display.
Australians – both existing and new – are unified by tolerance, acceptance, empathy and compassion. On Australia Day, we reflect on our past, celebrate the liberal values that we often take for granted such as freedom of the individual, freedom of speech and of religion, equality between men and women, and to recognise that we all have a contribution to make to the wonderful Story of Australia.
We also know how to have a good time – so prepare to have plenty of fun! For full details on Australia day, click here.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
This year’s Australia Day is also going to be notable for the announcement of the 2026 Mayor’s Citizen of the Year award winners.
These awards give us the chance to celebrate some truly extraordinary members of our community – people whose generosity, dedication and quiet leadership make the City of Ryde a better place for all of us.
Congratulations to all 21 nominees across the four categories – their service reflects the very best of our City’s community spirit.
CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY
One of the events I most look forward to on Australia Day is Council’s special citizenship ceremony, which is being held at the North Ryde School of Arts from 9.30am.
This year the invitation list includes 120 conferees from 35 countries.
It aways gives me great joy to formally introduce new citizens to our wonderful, inclusive community but the 26 January citizenship ceremony has extra significance as we celebrate and reflect upon what it means to be Australian.
The circumstances that draw people from all over the world to the City of Ryde may be different but the desire and opportunity to begin new lives here is a common thread and I’m proud to say that our community welcomes all our new arrivals with open arms.
Our 26 January ceremony is one of more than 425 being held across the nation as part of local government organised Australia Day events, with more than 25,450 people from over 160 countries taking part.
Sincerely,
Trenton Brown – Mayor