Anyone for thong throwing or dummy spitting, or perhaps the old ute out the back is worthy of some competition?
Australia Day celebrations around the country on Thursday 26th January have more to offer than the usual flag-raising ceremonies, fireworks and concerts.
The National Australia Day Council says that while many of the 13.5 million people celebrating the day will be happy with a barbecue at home for family and friends, the range of community events on offer will be enticing to just about all Australians. "Whether you're in the city, by the beach or in the bush you'll find celebrations are happening in every corner of the country," council chairwoman Lisa Curry Kenny said today.
Some of the more unusual activities around the country include a ute competition in Adelaide with prizes for Town Ute, Vintage/Restored Ute and the Hunks Ute.
There will be the Great Dummy Spitting Championship, Great Aussie Thong Throw and Great Aussie Breakfast Eating Competition during a beach party in the South Australian town of Whyalla.
On Queensland's Sunshine Coast, the town of Gympie will have a country-style carnival including a "country of origin" dress-up competition.
And Melbourne will hold a birthday cake cutting ceremony for everyone born on January 26.
Ms Curry Kenny said the council was this year asking people to "not only celebrate our national day, but to take a moment to really consider what makes Australia great and how lucky we all are to be Australian". "No matter who you are, what your background is or where you come from, we all share similar values which make us Australian and that's something to celebrate," she said.
The encouraging message follows a warning from the mayor of Sydney's Sutherland Council for members of a white supremacist group to stay away from Cronulla beach on Australia Day.
The group, the Australia First Party, has urged its members to rally peacefully at the scene of last month's racial unrest.
Australia First has accused NSW police of failing to arrest people of Middle-Eastern appearance who were blamed for revenge attacks in beachside suburbs hours after the initial Cronulla violence, in which people of Middle Eastern descent were chased and attacked. "Patriotic Australians should peacefully assemble in Cronulla on January 26 to register their disgust with selective policing," Australia First says on its website.
NSW Premier Morris Iemma says an extra 1,200 police will be on duty at Sydney's southern beaches tomorrow to deal with any reoccurrence of December's racial violence.
Elsewhere in Sydney, Hyde Park will be transformed into the city's main celebration venue, with live music, food and information stalls.
The Queen's Baton Relay for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games will pass through the park at about 12.45pm (AEDT) as part of an Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony.
It also will visit other key Sydney landmarks tomorrow, carried by a host of people, including Australian sporting greats Dawn Fraser and Jane Flemming, and television personality Rove McManus.
To check what's on in your city or town on Australia Day, go to www.australiaday.gov.au.
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