Australia Day 2015 in Newcastle

Renee Buckingham talks about the 2015 Australia Day celebrations in Newcastle. There will be activities at Honeysuckle, Queens Wharf, Nobbys Lighthouse, Fort Scratchley and Newcastle City Hall.

NOTE: The Stockton Surf Life Saving Club have now cancelled the Stockton Newcastle Harbour Swim due to increased shark activity and water conditions. They plan to bring the event back next year. There are a heap of other events happening over Australia Day, check out the video below.

[videoembed type=”youtube” url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGHxUbgePc”]

This video was also uploaded to Facebook and iTunes Podcast.

Head to the Honeysuckle precinct to celebrate our national day. There will be plenty of activity between 10am and 4pm including live music, circus workshops, face painting, roving entertainment, international dance performances, artisan markets as well as a multicultural BBQ. There will also be plenty of activity at Fort Scratchley throughout the day.

In the evening head to our summer of sport live site between the Maritime Centre and The Dockyard and watch the broadcast of the 2015 Asian Cup semi-final 1 from Sydney (activity from 6pm, kick-off 8pm).

Schedule of Events

Time	Activity	Precinct	Location
8am	700m Stockton to Newcastle across harbour swim CANCELLED	Stockton
8:45am	1,400 across harbour swim CANCELLED	Queens Wharf Brewery
9am	Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony	Newcastle City Hall	Concert Hall
10am	Australia Day activities open	Honeysuckle
10am	Australia Day awards announced	Newcastle City Hall	Concert Hall
10am to 4pm	Artisan Markets	Honeysuckle
10am	Fort Scratchley opens	Fort Scratchley
10am	Caitlin Harnett	Honeysuckle	Main stage
10:30am	Ducks for Dollars	Queens Wharf Brewery
10:30am	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
11am	Firing of the 6″ guns	Fort Scratchley
11am	James Bennett	Honeysuckle	Main stage
11am	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
10am	Multicultural BBQ	Honeysuckle
11:30am	IVI	Honeysuckle	Main stage
11:30am	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
12 noon	Tim Stokes Duo	Honeysuckle	Main stage
12 noon	International dance performances start	Honeysuckle	Dance stage
12 noon	Roving band	Honeysuckle	Roving
12 noon	Caitlin Harnett	Honeysuckle	Satellite stage
12 noon	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
11am to 2pm	Circus workshops and face painters	Honeysuckle	Kids area
12:30pm	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
1pm	19Twenty	Honeysuckle	Main stage
1pm	Firing of the 6″ inch guns	Fort Scratchley
1pm	James Bennett	Honeysuckle	Satellite stage
1:15pm	Roving entertainment ceases	Honeysuckle
1:30pm	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
2pm	IVI	Honeysuckle
2pm	Ginger and the ghost	Honeysuckle	Satellite stage
2pm	Guided tunnel tour (30 minutes)	Fort Scratchley
3pm	Tim Stokes	Honeysuckle
3pm	Lime Cordiale	Honeysuckle	Main stage
3pm	Firing of the 6″ guns	Fort Scratchley
4pm	Multicultural BBQ ceases	Honeysuckle
3pm	Circus workshops and face painters cease	Honeysuckle
3pm	International dance performance finish	Honeysuckle
4pm	Australia Day activities close	Honeysuckle
6pm	Summer of sport activities start	Honeysuckle	The Dockyard
8pm	2015 Asian Cup semi final one kicks off	Honeysuckle	The Dockyard

 

Event Information

http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/about_newcastle/events/australia_day

http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/about_newcastle/news_and_events/media_releases/media_releases/head_to_honeysuckle_to_celebrate_australia_day_2015

http://www.visitnsw.com/events/national-australia-day-maritime-festival

http://hunterartsnetwork.org/newcastle-australia-day-market-stallholders/10560/

 

Video Transcript for Closed Captions

# I’ve been around the world a couple of times or maybe more.

# I’ve seen the sights and had delights….

Hi Newcastle! my name’s Renee and this coming Monday is Australia Day. Newcastle will be jam packed full of festivities for everyone to enjoy. things will kick off at 8am with the Stockton to Newcastle Annual Swim.

The event is held by the `Stockton Surf Life Saving Club` and starts with a social one-way swim across the harbour to Newcastle. Then at 8:30am the `open swim` will begin at Newcastle, loop around a buoy near Stockton then return to Newcastle again.

After the swim Newcastle City Hall will host the `Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony` and the presentation of the `Australia Day Awards` from 9am. The awards celebrate and recognise our highest achievers and their outstanding contribution to Australian society.

Following that at 10:30am the `Annual Ducks for Dollars` will be held at Queens Wharf. The event is to raise money for the `Westpac Rescue Helicopter`. Ducks are available for $5 and they will put you in the running to win up to $1500 in prizemoney.

Then at 11am, 1pm and 3pm Fort Scratchley will hold a guided tunnel tour where you can see the firing of their 6 inch guns and learn about the fort’s 200 year history in Newcastle.

After you visit Fort Scratchley be sure to check out the `Striking Newcastle Photographic Exhibition’ at Nobbys Lighthouse. Local photographer `Shane Williams` has always had an affinity for storms and weather, although now, he runs towards them with his camera in his hand to ensure he captures the magical moment. While you are there looking at the art, ensure to take in and enjoy the panoramic views of Newcastle from Nobbys head.

Here in Honeysuckle there will be a day full of entertainment for all the family to enjoy spread across 2 stages including singers and dancers. There will be something for everyone to enjoy including a tug boat race, wakeboarding, roving artists, circus workshops, face painting, markets and much much more. So be sure to come down and check it all out.

If you would like any more information on the Australia Day Events happening here in Newcastle, head over to huntertv.com.au. Thats it from me, thanks for listening, lets hope it’s great weather for monday, have a lovely Australia Day,. my name’s Renee, we’ll see you next time.