On Friday 26 January the community is encouraged to Reflect, Respect and Celebrate our nation and our people – and especially our strong sense of community. Australia Day 2024 will present a particularly poignant and special opportunity to recognise the resilience of Australians and to focus on what we can achieve as a community and nation.

Each year we want to unite our community and pay tribute to the Australian spirit. We’re extremely grateful our Australia Day Ambassador, Doug Hawkins, will join our community and offer inspiration and share his optimistic messages and stories. Known for his work as a surf-lifesaving volunteer, Doug Hawkins is proud to be an Australia Day Ambassador and to visit Narrandera Shire to join in with our community celebrations.

For 23 years, Doug Hawkins has been a proud surf-lifesaving volunteer whose visionary approach has helped Coogee SLSC and other NSW Clubs implement inclusive training programs and as a result increasing youth, community, and member engagement.

To date, he has trained over 1,400 individuals to become surf lifesavers. He has also developed and delivered programs to teach, international students, refugees, and immigrants’ life-saving water safety skills, so they can safely participate in Australia’s beach culture.

Initially running the Nippers program at Coogee, Doug was the Director of Juniors for 13 years in Sydney, and now oversees the Membership of SLS Sydney. Doug also directed the Junior Development Program since 2003, covering 2,500 Nippers.

Doug was also instrumental in taking surf lifesaving overseas, to Israel, India, Thailand, Dubai, and the Cook Islands. Here, he helped set up their lifesaving clubs, sharing valuable CPR, and water rescue skills, that have helped save countless people from drowning.

In the 2022 surf-lifesaving season alone, Doug volunteered over 500 hours, including 62 hours of beach patrols. His selfless commitment has been awarded at all levels of SLS and is an inspiration to many.
Mayor Neville Kschenka is excited that Doug Hawkins will join our community on such an important day.

“Our national day is a time to reflect on and celebrate strong signs of a positive future.”

“We recognise and acknowledge our Aboriginal people and we respect the contributions of all Australians. On Australia Day we recognise that everyone plays a role in shaping our nation’s future while also taking the time to reflect on our past.”

Australians share a unique, unifying and defining set of values that are based on the spirit of community, selflessness, courage, and resilience. Values that are embodied by our Australia Day Ambassador Doug Hawkins.”

Australia Day Ambassadors generously volunteer their time and share their story at hundreds of community events. For more than 30 years, Ambassadors have inspired thousands of people in activities as diverse as the communities themselves, and 2024 will be no different.

Drawing inspiration from our ambassadors, the Narrandera Shire community is encouraged to make a difference this Australia Day by supporting community businesses. Simple efforts such as arranging restaurant/cafe bookings or buying locally made products will boost the Australia Day spirit