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Australia Day ceremonies will be held in Lithgow, Wallerawang and Portland on Monday 26 January with free activities and entertainment for everyone. So come along and celebrate Australia Day this year with family and friends. Lithgow
Queen Elizabeth Park
9am – 10.30am
Official Ceremony conducted by Mayor Cassandra Coleman and the Australia Day Ambassador including Local Citizen Awards and Citizenship Ceremony.
Light refreshments provided
Portland
Wolgan Street, Portland
10am – 3pm
12.00noon Official Ceremony conducted by Mayor Cassandra Coleman and the Australia Day Ambassador.
Entertainment including children’s activities and CWA refreshment room.
Wolgan Street will be closed to vehicles from 9.00am – 4.00pm.
Wallerawang
Wallerawang Community & Sports Club
10am – 3pm
11.00am Official Ceremony conducted by Mayor Cassandra Coleman and the Australia Day Ambassador
Family entertainment and activities
Australia Day Ambassador – Mr John Lee OAM
John Lee OAM is the founder of You Have a Friend, a grassroots charity dedicated to supporting homeless and vulnerable Australians. His journey from the African bush to the Gold Coast is a story of resilience, compassion and service. Born in Zimbabwe and raised on family farms in Zambia and Zimbabwe, John’s early life was shaped by nature and community values. Fluent in Zulu as a child, he developed a lifelong love of wildlife and photography, inspired by his father, an honorary game ranger.
After completing schooling in Johannesburg and training as a computer programmer in Cape Town, John travelled extensively through Europe, South America and the United States before immigrating to Australia in 1974 – a moment he describes as life-changing. He proudly became an Australian citizen in 1980. John built a successful career in technology, creating a pioneering sports analytics system adopted by NRL teams, State of Origin squads, and international rugby and netball organisations.
His greatest legacy began in 2001 when a simple act of kindness – sharing a beachside BBQ with five homeless men sparked a lifelong mission. What started as daily meals grew into You Have a Friend Inc., a registered charity launched in 2008 with his wife Robyn. Today, the organisation has 80 volunteers, an op-shop, and provides food, clothing and advocacy for homeless and marginalised people across the Gold Coast and Tweed region.
The charity also assists farmers during droughts and communities affected by floods in Kempsey, Chinderah, Murwillumbah and Lismore. Remarkably, no one in the charity is paid, and it operates without government funding – powered entirely by generosity and community spirit.
Beyond his charity work, John actively contributes to community education and advocacy. He has served on Southern Cross University’s Community Reference Group, mentored social work students, and participated in awareness campaigns such as Student Sleep-outs for Homelessness. As a long-standing Australia Day Ambassador, John travels to regional NSW to speak at a range of events including citizenship ceremonies inspiring conversations about social justice. His dedication has earned him numerous honours, including the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2021 for his service to the community through social welfare organisations, the Pride of Australia Award, Tweed Shire Volunteer of the Year, and Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow both for significant service to the community.
For John, being Australian means fairness, mateship and helping those who need it most. As an Ambassador, he hopes to inspire others to embrace compassion and create a more inclusive society
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Wallerawang Community & Sports Club, Mackenzie St,Wallerawang,NSW,Australia, Lithgow
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
