Australia Day - 2026 - Churchill

It was a cool morning with an easterly breeze. Bill Rowley was playing a selection of Australian songs.

Lion Peter Tait as MC opened the proceedings. Welcoming everyone with acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand and pay respect to the elders and people of the Gunaikurnai Nation past, present and emerging.

The Lions Club of Churchill would like to welcome our special guests, the member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, Budgeree Ward Councillor Leanne Potter, The Reverend Bec Hayman and the citizens of Churchill.

A big thank you to Bill Rowley for providing some musical entertainment, The 1st Churchill Scout Group for their support with first aid and other stuff and the Vintage Car club’s display

The National Anthem was led by Peter unaccompanied.

Martin Cameron was then asked to speak.

He welcomed everyone to the occasion. He paid his respects to our first responders, CFA members, returned services personnel, men and women. Australia Day he said was a chance to celebrate our great country and to remember how lucky we are. Australia Day means much more than a holiday. Martin thanked the Lions Club for organising the event as a way to present awards and celebrate. Our communities are melting points of people with different points of view, but we are all Australians. Be kind to each other he said in conclusion.

Could you please be upstanding for the National Anthem

Reverend Bec Hayman of the Co-operating Churches in Churchill Boolarra Yinnar and Chaplain at FedUni delivered this prayer.

Adapted from the Australian Defence Chaplains resources

For those of you unfamiliar with prayer think of it as making space to reflect with the added bonus of a loving powerful presence receiving your hopes and your hurts. There will be few words and many silences for you to fill with your own thoughts and for God to fill with comfort, peace and maybe challenge. Let us pray:

Loving God, We give thanks for this ancient and beautiful land,

A land of despair. We think of the things which have broken us as a nation. It is also a land of hope. Fill us with new hope.
Thank you for the wealth and abundant harvests the land has yielded for us.
We remember also that for many this past year has proved to be a land of fire, drought and flood.
Holy Spirit may you continue to move in this land, teach us to forgive, empower us to work for reconciliation and encourage us to stand against injustice.
God, bless Australia
Guard our people
Guide our leaders
And give us peace;
For Jesus Christ’s sake.
Amen.

Churchill Australian Citizen of the Year Gregory Farrell AKA Barney.

The recipient this year has been contributing to the betterment of Churchill for at least thirty years, and often referred to as a quiet achiever. They do good deeds and disappear and nobody knows they were there. Barney has been involved with 1st Churchill Scouts in many ways, always willingly.

Greg Farrell (known to many by his nickname Barney) has been a valued member of the Churchill community for over 30 years, as a volunteer Venturer Scout leader throughout this time. Barney’s commitment has benefitted hundreds of young people, enabling them to develop leadership skills, resilience and, experience outdoor adventure, and learn valuable life skills. It is not only the youth of Churchill that have benefitted from his work. Barney has been involved in the facilitation of scout events at a District, Regional, State, National and International level, particularly within the Venturer Scout section.

Whether it is taking Venturer Scouts on an outdoor adventure weekend, helping man the local Bunnings sausage sizzle, keeping the camping equipment in top condition, towing the trailer to camp, or any one of the other 150 things he does, Barney is a stalwart member of our Churchill Scout Group family, and a worthy nominee for Churchill Citizen of the Year.

School Awards were then presented with the following introduction.

The Schools Citizens of the year are selected through consultation between teachers and their Principals to find the young students who demonstrate the qualities of good citizenship within their school community.

These awards are in recognition of their commitment to their education and respect of the schools’ values. Highlighting their leadership qualities, compassion and the giving of their time to help and encourage their peers to achieve common goals. Each of the four schools has selected one student who fits these criteria and it is our pleasure to announce their recipients.

Luca Mulder from Churchill Primary School.

When we talked to this young recipient, he told us that his favourite subject at school was PE. He loves to play basketball and this year will be playing in the under 13s football team. Getting out on the ride - on and helping his dad around the place was important to him. His long-term goal in life is to play professional football for Collingwood preferably.

Macy Grimshaw from Hazelwood North Primary School.

The next recipient informed us that she had tried various sports, and none had taken her fancy but talk about the arts and it is another story. Art and Literature are her favourite subjects at school, especially the performing arts. She participated in all aspects of the arts at school and sang at Church concerts. In her spare time she makes jewellery, mainly earrings, that she sells at various markets.

Nathan Mclaren from Churchill North Primary School

This recipient is a big fan of the Rams Soccer club where he plays in their under 13 side whilst simultaneously barracking for Melbourne Storm and Collingwood. At school his favourite subject is maths which I am sure will come in handy if he follows his desire to become a police detective when older. Nathan gets on extremely well with his peers and teachers and was the recipient of the John Tipping award for excellence for 2025.

Charlie Jones from Lumen Christi Catholic Primary School

A big fan of the Essendon Football club, this recipient loves to play sport. Playing soccer for the Rams and next day playing footy for the Cougars keeps mum and dad busy. His favourite school subject is PE. He is a well-respected student who is considered very responsible and is highly respected by his peers.

Peter Tait concluded

by saying ‘The Churchill Lions would like to thank you all for coming to celebrate Australia day with us. Thank you to the Latrobe City Council for assisting with making this a great event and once again thanks to the scouts and Bill the music man. That is the end of all ceremonies, if Churchill would like to gather for breakfast we have egg and bacons sandwiches and sausages ready to serve.’