Australia Day Big Breakfast

Come say g'day at the Australia Day Big Breakfast

This Australia Day, bring your family and friends to the City of Gosnells annual Australia Day Big Breakfast as we celebrate all the things we love about our country, our land, our lifestyle and our community.

Start your celebrations under the shady trees along the Canning River, with a great line-up of family entertainment, free activities and an Aussie brekkie for sale by the Gosnells Rotary Club.

Join us on Thursday 26 January 2023, 8.00am - 11.00am at Centennial Pioneer Park Amphitheatre, Gosnells.

This is a free community event. No ticket required.

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Activities and Entertainment

Some if the activities and entertainment you can expect to see:

• Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony
• Blinky Bill stage show 
• Musical stage performances from Matt Fotti and Natasha Eldridge
• Birds of Prey stall and stage display
• Bizurcus stage show
• Native animals up close – koalas, pythons and lizards
• Mini Golf
• Panning for treasure
• Water play, crafts, playdough
• Roving entertainment

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Food

The Rotary Club of Gosnells will be providing a brekkie at $7 small plate and $11 large plate. 

Additional items are available to purchase from our mobile food vendors including K-Jun Kitchen, Sweets on the Run and The Juice Junky.

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Stage Schedule

8am MC welcome and Australian anthem –Penny Shaw
8.05am Welcome to Country – Robyn Collard
8.10am Smoking ceremony
8.20am Birds of Prey flying display
8.45am Natasha Eldridge
9.05am Bizircus
9.25am Blinky Bill
10.05am Mayor’s speech
10.10am Australia Day Ambassador
10.20am Community Citizen of the Year Awards
10.40am Matt Foti
11am Rotary Club raffle and event close

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Community Citizen of the Year Awards

Congratulations to all the Community Citizen of the Year Award nominees. Winners will be announced at the Australia Day Big Breakfast at 10.20am. 

Community Citizen of the Year Award nominees

Brian Bintley
Brian has been a mainstay of the Gosnells Senior Football Club for many years, helping with event planning and delivery, award ceremonies and finals. He is an active advocate for the club in the community, bringing in new management, members and players. For the past five years he has dedicated his Saturdays to serving at the club’s bar and canteen, alongside his family, where his efforts have improved the club’s financial position and made him invaluable to the club.

Rodney Glossop

Rodney works to bring the community together through sport and exercise. For the past year he has established and overseen the success of two community Parkruns, Homestead (Thornlie) and University of Western Australia. These Parkruns bring people together in a friendly and safe environment where they connect with other community members along a 5km course. He has also coached the Year 11/12 girls’ team at Thornlie Junior Football Club to two consecutive Grand Final appearances, and is the founder of Woosha’s Warriors Social Running Club. Woosha’s Warriors provides a range of challenges for participants to improve their fitness while raising money and awareness for Stillborn and Neonatal Death Support Australia.

Tania Harris

As a consumer advocate for the Health Consumers’ Council and chair of the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Consumer Advisory Council, Tania provides a voice for others to the Executive at Perth Children’s Hospital, the CAHS and the Department of Education. She ensures these organisations understand the impact of their decisions on children and families and is committed to improving Aboriginal consumer engagement across Western Australia. Her logical and well-thought-out advice has benefited many families and ensures the State provides the best care possible to those in need.

Ryan Honschooten

Ryan lost his eyesight to cancer at age three and now advocates for people with vision impairment and disability. His work at VisAbility as a Youth Support Officer has assisted children, teens and young adults who are blind or have low vision. He has also taken part in an SBS documentary to challenge people’s perceptions of disability and worked with the State Government to make the G2G Pass more accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic. Passionate about sport, Ryan is Secretary of Blind Sports WA, Chair of Goalball Australia and a Goalball coach. He has established programs for Blind and Low Vision Tennis, Blind Soccer, AFL Blind and Blind Hockey, is an active participant in the Royal Perth Yacht Club and earned a baggy green cap representing the Australian Blind Cricket Team. He is also involved with Blind Citizens WA, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Advisory Committee, the WA Disability Advisory Group, Social Sports Inclusion Network and WA Stargardt’s Support Group.

Jawaria Mahoood

Jawaria is an active community leader with a passion for supporting migrant communities and opportunities for young people, especially girls, in STEM careers. She is a Learning Club Coordinator for The Smith Family, hosts bilingual Storytime sessions at City of Gosnells and City of Canning libraries, runs the inaugural Perth Science and Engineering Discovery Day by the University of Newcastle and raises money for orphans in Syria through Local Food Canteen. Jawaria also promotes positive work culture through Engineers Australia D&I Working Group, wrote a book detailing the journey of professional migrant women in Australia, conducted ICAN  Arts and Crafts Workshops for children and administers a Buy Nothing page to promote the circular economy. She provides coding experience to girls in high school through the Girls Programming Network, is on a committee to raise money for struggling Pakistani families and advocate on their behalf for Pakistanis in Australia, hosts mosque visits for non-Muslims through ICAN and the City of Gosnells and ran a workshop for migrant women called Chai Time Women Connect.

Michelle Manolas

Michelle has been President of Thornlie Senior High School Parents and Citizens for five years and was the President of South Thornlie Primary School P&C for five years previously. She is an active member of Your Move and the Health and Wellbeing Committee at Thornlie Senior High School, mentors students through the STEM Robotics Club, assists at the school breakfast club, pursues funding grants and opportunities, and takes part in many other associations at Thornlie Senior High School. Outside school, Michelle volunteers at the Armadale Gosnells Landcare Group, the Cannington and Kelmscott agricultural shows and at the Thornlie Tee-Ball Association.

Community Citizen of the Year – Youth Award nominees

Dean Morris

Dean established a not-for-profit organisation Give Our Strays A Chance (GOSAC), which he manages around university studies and part-time work. Through GOSAC, Dean has provided support to over 78 animal welfare organisations in the City of Gosnells and across the State with donations, animal food, health and medicinal supplies for rescued animals, injured wildlife and animal victims of fire. He attends community events to promote awareness and change. In 2022 he also delivered dog jackets, food and blankets to people who are homeless in the City of Gosnells, to provide comfort during the winter months.

Samuel Thomas

Sam runs not-for-profit organisation Sam’s Spares in the City of Gosnells, through which he saves unwanted e-waste, which is then repaired and refurbished to be given freely to those in need. He works closely with other not-for-profit organisations in the City, notably through his family’s Eco Community Hub at Jacaranda House. Sam is on the Autism spectrum and has Tourette Syndrome, and works as an independent support worker with other Autistic youth, training them in computer repairs.

Community Citizen of the Year – Senior Award nominees

Veronica Baldwin

Veronica was an inaugural and active member of Forget-Me-Not Dementia Support, following her husband Peter’s dementia diagnosis. This voluntary not-for-profit organisation advocates for people living with dementia, their families and carers by providing safe, non-judgemental and social interactive memory cafes. Forget-Me-Not Dementia Support now has 20 memory cafes throughout Perth and surrounding regional areas, of which Veronica regularly attends at least 15 each month. She also employs her artistic talents to prepare all the organisation’s display and presentation materials.

Dorothy Burke

Dorothy served at the William Langford Community House (WLCH) as Deputy Chair between 2013 and 2015, before taking on the role of Chairperson between 2016 and 2022. In her roles at the organisation, Dorothy provided leadership and assisted with funding applications to ensure WLCH could provide beneficial programs for its multicultural members. For many years she has also taught mosaic art to WLCH members. Dorothy is an executive member of the Mosaic Association of Australia and New Zealand and recently headed a project called ‘Hanging by a thread: Mosaics for Afghan Women’, which joined with artists across 47 countries to raise awareness of Afghan women’s right to education and employment. She also volunteers with the Southern River Community Garden, assisting with tending garden plots and organising busy bees and funding opportunities.

Paul Gayton

Paul is committed to the local environment, being actively involved in local community chat groups, where he works tirelessly to report local issues such as graffiti vandalism and anti-social behaviour. He has advocated for improvements to the Royal Street car parking area, so that it provides safe and easy access to the Canning River, and for a commitment by the Public Transport Authority to install security cameras at the Thornlie Train Station.

Active Citizenship (Group or Event) Award 

Forest Lakes Thornlie Family Centre

This State Government-funded organisation was established in 1992 to provide a program for four-year-old children and a venue for community activities. Forest Lakes Thornlie Family Centre has evolved to become a community hub for all occasions and purposes, including a cuppa and a chat, food and dignity bags, child health services, mothers’ groups, playgroups and other programs. The centre is currently a meeting place for 12 recurring groups and offers a wide range of workshops for community members, such as raising children in the digital age and free basic first aid. This welcoming and inclusive environment provides support, information and activities to enhance the health and social wellbeing of the City of Gosnells community.

Good Deed Movement

The team at Good Deed Movement volunteer their time and skills to promote kindness and wellbeing through free community fitness classes in the park, including short courses for specific target groups. They also engage with local youth on social media about self-care, being kind to yourself and others, and tips for starting conversations or giving non-physical compliments. Good Deed Movement collaborates with schools, not-for-profit organisations and workplaces, and aims to make the community kinder, in a bid to reduce bullying, violence, self-harm and suicide among young Australians and the wider community.

Gosnells Community Legal Centre

Founded in 1982 by a group of volunteers, the Gosnells Community Legal Centre (GCLC) has grown to be the sole provider of free legal services to the City of Gosnells’ most vulnerable citizens, in addition to providing family mediation and general community volunteering. GCLC provided free legal, financial and tenancy services to over 3,000 residents in 2022, resulting in $2.17million paid out to local residents who have been victims of crime, 51 people saved from homelessness and hundreds of women supported to flee family violence and start a new life with their families.

Gosnells and Maddington Junior Football Clubs – Year 7 Team

Due to declining membership, the Year 7s from Gosnells Junior Football Club and Maddington Junior Football Club were unable to field separate teams, and in 2022 joined forces so that their Year 7 members could continue to play in their age group. Despite previously being on opposing sides, the team played together with great spirit and called themselves the Gosington Bull-Hawks as a combination of both clubs. Early in the season one of their young teammates died and the team encouraged both clubs to pull together to raise money and support the teammate’s family through this tragedy.

Hazara Community of WA

Since its launch in July 2020, this community centre has flourished and provided support to the Hazara community in Western Australia. The Hazara Community Centre actively liaises and advocates for the plight of the Hazara community here in Western Australia and nationwide by meeting Members of Parliament to raise awareness and seek assistance. Following the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan in 2021, community gatherings were vital in assuring and providing support to community members, many of whom had family and friends still in Afghanistan, where the situation was increasingly dangerous for Hazara groups. Hazara Community of WA members arranged protests, gathered to support each other and raised vital funds for victims of the conflict.

Maddington Little Athletics Club

The Maddington Little Athletics Club celebrated its 50th birthday in February 2022, compiling the history of the club and recognising the amazing athletes and others who developed a positive outlook on life while at the club. Maddington Little Athletics Club has an outstanding spirit of inclusiveness. The achievements of all are recognised and encouraged. Many young people have had their sporting ability and personal skills developed while being members of the club.

 

 

Paint the Highway REaD Gosnells

Research shows foundational early literacy skills learned before school are critical for children to be competent in literacy as they grow. Paint the Highway REaD Gosnells (PTHRG) is part of an overall initiative, Paint the Highway REaD Ltd, which supports and promotes early literacy in the community. PTHRG working group members represent eight different organisations within the Cities of Gosnells and Canning. They host events and celebrations throughout the year to provide diverse and targeted literacy activities based on playing, talking, rhyming, singing and reading. Engaging and friendly possum mascots add to the fun, while members facilitate discussion, model tasks, provide resources and connect local families to services.

Samskruthi Perth

Since 2017, Samskruthi Perth has been on a mission to bring communities closer together. It was founded to promote and share traditional cultural and spiritual knowledge and values of the Hindu religion, connecting current and future generations of Australian Hindus to their cultural and ethnic identity. The organisation has grown to incorporate charitable, social and other community services, including an organ donation awareness program, robotics program for children, blood donation camp, COVID relief assistance and involvement in environmental projects such as tree planting and Clean Up Australia Day. Samskruthi Perth has also supported International Yoga Day, Cancer Council WA, Seva International, Hindu Council of Western Australia programs and more.

Team Connect WA

Team Connect WA is a not-for-profit organisation working with girls in secondary schools across the metropolitan area. This community engagement program creates links between schools and local community junior cricket clubs. It supports and encourages girls to take part in community cricket, with the aim of developing a sense of belonging and commitment to their community. In the Gosnells area, Team Connect WA is working with five teams across two schools, Thornlie Senior High School and Yule Brook College. Training sessions include teamwork, commitment, responsibility, friendship skills, being organised, rights and responsibilities and belonging. Participants are encouraged to connect with mentors and female role models in the community, and families are encouraged to become involved. Schools involved have reported improvements in behaviour, communication and attendance by participants.

Thornlie Junior Football Club

Over 61 years, the Thornlie Junior Football Club has built a strong community club that reaches out to attract new members and is respected throughout the football community. The development of girls’ football at the club has been a particular highlight, along with the club’s reputation for a sense of fair play, team spirit and strong skills development. Led by dedicated volunteers, the club’s social media shows many examples of active citizenship, especially at the club awards night. 

Thornlie Senior High School P&C

Thornlie Senior High School P&C is made up of local parents who volunteer their time and work tirelessly for students and the school community. They support students with resources and events, including multiple fundraisers held throughout the school year to assist school programs and facility upgrades. They also lead the school’s involvement in the Department of Transport’s Your Move program, and coordinated the school’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2021 so that former students and staff members were able to attend the event, meet with their year group and enjoy being part of the Thornlie Senior High School community and tradition.

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The City of Gosnells Australia Day Big Breakfast is sponsored by the National Australia Day Council.