Byron Shire Council is holding two citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day with more than 60 people wanting to become Australian citizens on 26 January 2020.

Director Corporate and Community Services, Vanessa Adams, said the response from people wanting to become Australian citizens has been extraordinary.

“We normally have large numbers of people coming to Byron Shire Council wanting to become citizens and this year we are holding two ceremonies because we can only cater for 30 people at a time in our Council Chambers,” Ms Adams said.

“They are joyous and emotional occasions filled with family and friends and we even have people on a waiting list this year,” she said.

The citizenship ceremonies will be held at the Mullumbimby Council Chambers on 26 January starting at 9:00am and 11:30am.

Australia Day in Byron Shire

Sports commentator and passionate advocate for heart health, Mr Andy Paschalidis, is the Byron Shire’s 2020 Australia Day Ambassador.

Mr Paschalidis will join Mayor Simon Richardson and invited guests on 25 January for the announcement of the Byron Shire 2020 Australia Day Award winners and then attend a number of community events on 26 January.

Mr Paschalidis is a sports commentator but it is for his work establishing the not-for-profit organisation, Heartbeat of Football, that he is really kicking goals.

He founded Heartbeat of Football (HoF) in 2016 after more than 10 amateur football players died in Australia in two years from heart-related incidents.

Since then HoF has partnered with Football NSW to create greater awareness of heart disease in the code, advocating for defibrillators to be located at all sporting grounds and conducting free testing, education and awareness sessions for players as well as coaches and spectators.

Council, through its Australia Day Community Small Grants program, is supporting a number of activities on 26 January including: