Marsh’s moment: Tongala’s Young Citizen of the Year, Bailey Marsh, is flanked by his parents Sheree and Evan, along with grandparents Ian and Sandra Marsh and his siblings Jacinda, Caleb and Aiden — after receiving his award at Tongala Town Hall on Australia Day.
Tongala has put itself back on the map as far as a “must visit” destination in the Campaspe Shire.
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Its spectacular murals, more than 50 of them scattered through the town, its Lions club-inspired town square and a series of events that have been the brainchild of a dedicated community group have boosted its tourism status.
At last week’s Australia Day ceremony, in the historic Mangan St town hall, the group behind the resurrection of the town as a festival “hot spot” — Tongala Development Group — was recognised as its Community Group of the Year.
Australia Day ambassador and guest speaker at the Tongala function, Bill Kusznirczuk, could well have been describing Tongala when he went to great lengths to describe what it was he considered to be Australian attributes.
Aside from the expansive vernacular that is attached to the nation’s means of communication, he saluted the town for living their life ‘the Australian way’.
“We are not good at everything, but everyone is good at something. Australians listen to each other and respect each other, we are free to have our own views and everyone is given a fair go,” he said.
“That is what being an Australian is.”
Last year's winner of the Citizen of the Year award, first responder Ann Church, was given the honour of presenting the Community Group of the Year to Tongala Development Group.
Group of the Year: Tongala Development Group members Ainslee Kelley, David Simkin, Kellie Brennan, president Jason Kelley and Rhiannon “Tootie’’ Brennan after the development group was named the Community Group of the Year.
President of the organisation responsible for the Eats & Beats Festival, the Hay Bale Trail and the Town Garage Sale, Jason Kelley, said it had been an honour for the group to try and brings things back after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He did add that the group could always do with some more volunteers.
Formed in 2020 the group has quickly established itself as a major contributor to the town and its enthusiasm to continue annual instalments of popular events should ensure ongoing attractions in the town.
The group has slotted neatly into a series of clubs and groups who would share responsibility for promoting the town.
Young Citizen of the Year was Bailey Marsh, a 16-year-old St Joseph’s Year 11 student with strong connections to the town’s sporting culture.
He is a volunteer at the Tongala Football Netball Club and Tongala Cricket Club, in a very hands-on role through ground maintenance and canteen duties.
He was last year’s recipient of the football and netball club’s junior club person award.
There was a Citizen of the Year selected, but the recipient chose to remain anonymous and was not involved in the ceremony.
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