The crowd enjoyed a barbecue breakfast of bacon, egg and sausage sandwiches cooked by Moree Lions Club as well as performances by the Moree Caledonian Society of Pipes and Drums, Moree Community Choir and members of the Moree Ukulele Group and other community-minded musicians.

The ceremony then began as 10 people took the pledge to become Australian citizens. 

Gregory Angus, Gary Armstrong, Arun Kumar, Bojana Bibic, Azzhel Fronda, Satnam Singh, Varghese Sibi, Razel Sweedman, Mary Victoria Thachuthara, Celin Pearl all became Australian citizens in front of the large crowd gathered.

Once the citizenship ceremony was over, it was time to hand out the 2019 Australia Day awards, presented by Moree’s 2019 Australia Day Ambassador George Ellis.

READ MORE: Meet Moree’s 2019 Australia Day award nominees

Julie Johnson was the major winner on the day, taking out the prestigious Citizen of the Year Award for her service every day of the week to the United Hospital Auxiliary (UHA) at the Moree Hospital. Julie coordinates the daily operation of the UHA kiosk.

St Philomena’s School captain Oscar Davis was named Young Citizen of the Year for his leadership at school and involvement in various sporting and community groups. He has also been awarded St Philomena’s Skip Hitchens Citizenship Award and Caltex Best All Rounder Award for excellence in academic, leadership, sporting and community service pursuits.

Rising rugby league talent Jock Brazel won the Sportsperson of the Year award for his numerous achievements on the sporting field. Among them, he has been named the most dedicated player for the Northern Inland Academy of Sports, made the AFL North West junior representative team, was part of the state touch football team and represented his school at state and regional athletics carnivals over the past four years.

Paul Strahan was recognised for the significant contribution he makes to the community as a volunteer, winning Volunteer of the Year. He runs a tutoring studio to help children improve their literacy and numeracy skills and is involved with a church service to provide meals to and look after people in need.​

Robert ‘Rens’ Gill was awarded Environmental Citizen of the Year. Rens, who was awarded an OAM for his community work at Weilmoringle 20 years ago, has been a member of Moree Botanic Gardens since 2008 and picks up rubbish on his daily walks around town.

Volunteer Group of the Year went to Moree United Hospital Auxillary and Moree Hospital Renal Unit Support Group won Community Event/Group of the Year.

After presenting the awards, Mr Ellis expressed pride in being an Australian.

“Today here I see togetherness, I see happiness, I see smiles, I hear great music, great food, friendship and real joyous spirit and really to sum it up, that’s what Australia is all about,” he said.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall was present at the event and spoke about what Australia Day means to him.

“Not only are we a lucky country as an onset, we are the compassionate and generous country and to me that is what being an Australian is all about,” he said.

“Being generous, being compassionate and being proud of the wonderful country, the diverse country that we have.”