Australia day in Wee Waa 2025

Wee Waa Namoi Echo Museum hosted the 2025 Australia Day ceremony, with organisers opting for the traditional breakfast timeslot to beat the summer heat.

“We were happy with the turnout for breakfast, it’s always a big hit and it wasn’t too hot,” said Wee Waa Historical Society publicity officer and ceremony organiser Julie Dowleans OAM.

This year’s guest speaker was Elodie Labonte, who readers would be familiar with from her work with Narrabri Shire Council.

Elodie spoke about her journey from Mauritius to Australia – the high and lows – and how community connection made her feel at home here. (More on Elodie’s story in a future edition.)

“It was such a treat to have Elodie speak,” said Julie.

“The Australia Day ambassador sadly couldn’t come and someone suggested Elodie share her story. It was absolutely wonderful that she could come out and tell her story from her perspective about everything she’s been through.”

As reported last week, Wee Waa punched well above its weight in Australia Day awards, with committed community members Dennis Lowder and Bruce Gray both recognised for their service.
Dennis Lowder was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to veterans and to the community of Wee Waa.

Bruce Gray was named Narrabri Shire Citizen of the Year for his unwavering dedication to Wee Waa and the wider community of Narrabri Shire.

Despite their extraordinary and well-deserved recognitions, to outside observers at the Australia Day breakfast, it might have looked like just another ordinary weekend for both men, who humbly carried out their regular volunteer work without fuss.

Firing up the museum’s barbecue with ‘the usual suspects’ – a hard-working small army of local mates and volunteers – to cook delicious bacon and egg rolls for attendees at the event.

Dennis’ Australia Day honour was made public on Sunday morning, January 26, and Julie said it was special for community members to share in the excitement with Dennis and congratulate the local legend on receiving such a top honour.

“It was wonderful,” said Julie.

“It couldn’t have gone to a more worthy recipient. It was just delightful that we could all share in his wonderful award.”

In 2020 Julie was recognised for her contribution to the community in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List and she said it was meaningful to pose for a photo with her fellow ‘four OAMs’ at the

Wee Waa gathering – Frank Crump OAM, Max Pringle OAM and Dennis Lowder, who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) this year.

“Yes, to have the four of us there, the ‘four OAMs’ there on Australia Day was extra special, not often you get four in the one place at the one time,” added Julie.

Julie also wanted to praise Wee Waarian Bruce Gray, who was named the shire’s Citizen of the Year at the Australia Day awards ceremony, held later that day at The Crossing Theatre in Narrabri.

Six people, devoted to various community causes, were nominated for the award – Will Childs, Louise Gett, Pat Hlad, Michelle Wheeler and Wee Waa’s Bruce Gray and Dennis Lowder.

“We went to Narrabri and we were barracking for the Wee Waa fellas,” said Julie.

“All the people who were nominated were very worthy nominations. You don’t realise how much and what they do until you read about them.

“They all just quietly go about their volunteering and work for their community.

“They’re all wonderful people. And Bruce, like Dennis, is very, very humble. They quietly go about their volunteering without any fanfare and that just makes them extra special.

“And the look on Bruce’s face when it was announced. After he was shaking his head and he said ‘I just can’t believe it’.

“I said, ‘You deserve it, take the accolade, take the pat on the back.’ “

Julie said we were lucky to live in a community where locals are willing to put their hands up to help and said volunteering comes naturally to people from the bush, who strive to make the region the best it can be.

“That’s just the way we are, little country towns stick together,” said Julie.

“When the going gets tough, they stand up and they’ve got a big voice, and they’ve got a voice that needs to be heard.

“Volunteering is such a powerful thing and you get so much back from it as well.”

Julie thanked the Community Band for creating a great atmosphere along with local representatives, Helen Wenner, poet Max Pringle OAM, NSC, attendees, and volunteers – especially the chefs – for helping to make the ceremony a memorable morning and success.