Details

On Monday, 26 January 2026, Gilgandra will come together as a community to reflect, respect and celebrate – because we are all part of the story.

The Australia Day Awards will be presented on Australia Day as part of the official Australia Day Ceremony, held in Hunter Park, Gilgandra.

Come along and be part of the celebrations!

Where: Hunter Park Precinct, Gilgandra

When: Monday, 26 January 2026

7.30am - BBQ Breakfast by local community groups in Hunter Park

9.00am - 2026 Australia Day Awards Ceremony in Hunter Park

12.00pm - Cool off at Gilgandra Swimming Pool with FREE entry

The 2026 Australia Day Ambassador is Nicholas Gleeson!

Nicholas Gleeson is an accomplished athlete, global adventurer and motivational speaker whose life story is a powerful testament to resilience and determination. Born in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, Nick’s life changed forever at age seven when an accident caused a retinal detachment, leaving him blind. Despite this challenge, he has spent decades breaking barriers and inspiring others through sport, exploration and advocacy.

Nick was one of the first blind students in his cohort to complete Year 12 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne, overcoming significant accessibility hurdles. His passion for sport saw him represent Australia in athletics on three occasions, competing internationally in the United States, England and Hong Kong. He also played blind cricket for nearly 20 seasons, representing Victoria, New South Wales and Australia.

An adventurer at heart, Nick has completed extraordinary feats, including three New York City Marathons, racing up the 1,576 steps of the Empire State Building, and finishing the gruelling 90km Comrades Ultra-Marathon in South Africa. He carried the Sydney Olympic Torch, led the Blind Ambition expedition to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and later scaled to 6,000 metres on Mount Everest. In 2015, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by trekking across the Simpson Desert, and in 2017, he published his memoir The Many Ways of Seeing.

Today, Nick works as a mentor, educator and leadership facilitator, and is passionate about consultative work with Achieve Australia, an organisation that empowers people with intellectual disability by giving them choice and greater control over their lives. Looking ahead, he will launch his podcast series Silver Lining in 2026, exploring everyday living and the ways we can find hope and resilience in life’s challenges.

When

• 7.30 am - 6.00 pm, Monday, 26 January, 2026

Location

• Hunter Park, Warren Road, Gilgandra

Contact

• Gilgandra Shire Council
• (02) 6817 8800
• enjoy@gilgandra.nsw.gov.au

Cost

• FREE