THIS year’s Australia Day ambassador for Cootamundra Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas has a special connection to Cootamundra in that his grandfather and his family, including Davyd’s mother, lived in Renehan Street in 1941 during a time Davyd’s grandfather was in charge of the railway control office in town.
While in Cootamundra, Davyd and his wife Maggie took the opportunity to visit the street his forbearers once called home.
During his address at the Breakfast in the Park celebrations in Jubilee Park, Davyd paid homage to the town he had been selected to celebrate Australia Day in.
“Cootamundra is special because it has a rich history dating back to the 1860s and the goldrush times, before prospering as an agricultural community in the years after that,” Davyd said.
“And of course it also boasts the birthplace of that most famous Australian, Sir Donald Bradman,” he added.
He talked about the ambassador program which began 23 years ago with nine ambassadors travelling to various communities.
The program has been sponsored by Woolworths for the last 11 years and today there are more than 170 ambassadors throughout NSW and about 350 ambassadors nation wide.
“Just as the ambassador program has gone from strength to strength, so too has the relevance and importance of our national day to all Australians,” Davyd said.
“When I was a younger person, Australia Day was just a day off, now it is a national event connecting all Australians, here and across the world, and it’s a day to reflect and be proud because it represents an opportunity for us all to come together as a nation and celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian.”
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