The contributions of community members and groups across the Cape will be recognised over the next week, including tomorrow night, when Weipa Town Authority hosts its 2025 Australia Day Awards at the Albatross Bay Resort. Photo: Supplied.
The twenty-sixth of January means different things to different people, but here on Cape York, the day is commemorated with a reflection on its history, enjoying the beautiful land we call home, and a celebration of local achievements.
Whether a fishing trip, a quiet day in or attending the annual Australia Day Awards, leaders across the region told Cape York Weekly how their communities were gearing up to spend the day.
“The Australia Day weekend in Cook Shire is all about enjoying the things we love – fishing, boating, camping, and spending time with our families and friends,” Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes said.
“It’s about bringing people together to connect, reflect and celebrate some of the things that make this part of the world so great.
“In Cooktown, council is hosting the Australia Day Awards and citizenship ceremony, which will also include a very special presentation to recognise our Tropical Cyclone Jasper community heroes.”
Mayor Holmes said the day was also an opportunity to pay respect to its complex history while uniting as a community.
“It’s a time to reflect on our history – both its challenges and achievements – while also celebrating the many cultures that call Cook Shire home,” she said.
“For some, it’s a day of quiet reflection on our shared history, including the impact on First Nations people, while others see it as an opportunity to come together in celebration.
“At its heart, it’s a day to honour stories of resilience, connection, and the strength of our community as we move forward together with understanding and respect.”
In Lockhart River, the Northern Peninsula Area and Aurukun, communities will be making the most of the outdoors, with a fishing competition in Lockhart River, a beach barbeque on Albany Island, and the Great Australian Bites food festival set to be held in Aurukun on 1 February.
Weipa Town Authority (WTA) Chair Jaime Gane said the western Cape York township would also be hosting its annual Australia Day Awards before community members enjoyed the outdoors.
“WTA will hold an Australia Day Awards dinner on the twenty-second, which is a really nice way to celebrate what it means to be Australian, and to thank those who have been nominated,” she said.
“We don’t hold anything on Australia Day itself, as our community prefers to celebrate their own way on the day and make the most of the long weekend, [but] spending time with friends and family enjoying the outdoors is always a favourite.
“It’s a day that highlights how fortunate we all are to call ourselves Australians, especially in today’s world; it’s about celebrating our shared beliefs, such as mateship and a fair go, and recognising that what we all have in common is greater than our differences.”
