From early morning, families began arriving to enjoy the free sausage sizzle and BBQ breakfast, live music and a wide range of activities designed to bring people of all ages together. The formal program commenced at 10:00am with the flag raising ceremony, proudly conducted by the 1st Ranelagh Scouts, setting a respectful and reflective tone for the day
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One of the standout attractions was the Australian Reptile Show and exhibition, which drew large crowds throughout the morning. Children were thrilled to experience hands-on encounters with a fascinating range of native wildlife, including frogs, a turtle, spiny-leaf stick insects, bobtail, monitor and dragon lizards, a python and even a crocodile. The popular Myuna animal farm and free face painting added to the excitement for younger attendees.
In the spirit of service that underpins Rotary, club members also collected donations on the day to support communities impacted by the recent and ongoing Victorian bushfires. The generosity shown by attendees was a powerful reminder of the compassion and solidarity that exists within our local community.
The Rotary Club of Mount Eliza extends its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event such a success — our volunteers, performers, community partners and the many families who joined us on the day. We are also deeply grateful for the generous support of the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Ritchies IGA and the Mt Eliza Community Bank (Bendigo Bank), whose sponsorship and assistance continue to make this much-loved community celebration possible.
Events such as Australia Day on the Village Green reflect the very best of Rotary: bringing people together, strengthening community connections and supporting those in need. We are proud to play a role in fostering these connections and look forward to welcoming everyone back again next year.
