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There was the warm summer sun, no shortage of flies, and the Beaufort Municipal Band played Give me a Home Among the Gum Trees to the several hundred patriotic guests shielding themselves from the UV rays under the row of marquees.

The Beaufort Ranger Guides provided a colour party and were joined by the Avoca Ranger Guides in raising the national flag.

Following Member for Ripon Joe Helper's address, Pyrenees Shire mayor Robert Vance invited all in attendance at the Beaufort Recreation Reserve to participate in the Affirmation of Citizenship ceremony. 

Australian Red Cross water and sanitation international emergencies manager and Australia Day ambassador Bob Handby gave the keynote address, and then presented Australia Day awards to three women.

Waubra CWA stalwart Nancy Dean and Moonambel community leader Pat Murrell both jointly received the Citizen of the Year award.

Megan Hodgetts, 17, received the Young Citizen of the Year award for her humanitarian work with communities in South-East Asia.

“I think it’s easier coming from a country town,” she said of her work.

“A lot of people we help are also from small communities, and coming from Landsborough, the whole community gets behind me.”

The Event of the Year award went to the Moonambel Taltarni Fireworks Party.