Australia day welcome for 41 new Australian Citizens on Busselton Foreshore

The weather was perfect at the Busselton foreshore for an early start on Australia Day.

On the stage at the Busselton amphitheatre, in front of an enthusiastic crowd, Busselton mayor Phil Cronin officiated over his first Australia Day Citizenship ceremony.

The mayor was joined on stage by Rotary Club of Busselton Geographe Bay president Ron Mildenhall, deputy mayor Anne Ryan and Cr Mikayla Love.

Assisted by State Liberal leader Libby Metam, Mr Cronin welcomed 41 new citizens, before moving on announce the winners of the City of Busselton awards.

For her outstanding work in as the chair of the Busselton Hospice, Jenny Monson received the award of senior community citizen of the year.

Youth community citizen of the year was awarded to Caitlyn Butler, an active and community-spirited student and 2024 school captain of Busselton Senior High School.

“I feel pretty good, its a very special award,” she said.

The nominees for the community citizen of the year were Tony Sharp, Dawn Blanchard, Carol Smith and former mayor Grant Henley.

Carol Smith received the award of community citizen of the year for hers work in the community for breast cancer awareness and fundraising.

The Rotary Club of Busselton Geographe Bay had been busy since 6am, with about 30 members working in shifts making their popular Australia Day breakfasts.

Roger Marriott a member of the Rotary Club of Busselton Geographe Bay looked very happy as he worked over one of the grills.

“I’ve done a couple of hundred breakfasts already and I’ve been going since 6:30am,” he said.

With the formalities completed, musical duo Chilali And The Chief, kept the crowds entertained with some atmospheric music.