The Southern Waters Ski Show Team will return to the Wimmera River, Horsham, this Australia Day.

The talented team of more than 50 skiers will perform a pair of displays at 11.30am and 1pm on Monday, January 26.

The shows will take place between the Anzac Centenary and Wimmera bridges.

With such a wide area of river, organisers believe there will be plenty of space to for everyone to get a good view of the ski show.

Residents and visitors are being encouraged to bring the whole family – pack a picnic blanket and some deck chairs to enjoy a summer afternoon on the river.

As well as the water-based festivities, there will be a Summer Series event providing an assortment of food trucks, drinks and live music at Horsham’s Riverfront Meeting Place from 2pm to 6pm.

January 22

Buloke Shire Council

Charlton Park Community Complex: 6pm light finger food, 6.30pm guest speaker associate professor Monique Watts, presentation of Buloke awards, Australian citizenship ceremony.

January 26

Ararat Rural City Council

Alexandra Oval Community Centre: free community breakfast barbecue from 9am, Australia Day awards and citizenship ceremony from 10am, party in the park at Alexandra Gardens from noon until 3pm. There will be free pool parties at Ararat, Lake Bolac and Willaura outdoor pools from noon until 3pm. 

Hindmarsh Shire Council

A flag-raising ceremony will take place in each town, along with addresses from local guest speakers and Mayor Ron Ismay. 

The 2026 Hindmarsh Shire Australia Day Awards will be presented to successful recipients throughout the day.

Rainbow, Oasis: breakfast barbecue from 7.30am, followed by a meet and greet at 8am and ceremony proceedings at 8.20am. Hosted by the Lions Club of Rainbow.

Jeparit, Menzies Square: breakfast barbecue from 9am, followed by a meet and greet at 9.30am and ceremony proceedings at 9.50am. Hosted by Jeparit Town Committee.

Dimboola, library gardens: morning tea from 10.30am, followed by a meet and greet at 11am and ceremony proceedings at 11.10am. Hosted by Dimboola CWA.

Nhill, Goldsworthy Park: barbecue lunch from noon, followed by a meet and greet at 12.30pm and ceremony proceedings at 12.50pm. Hosted by Lions Club of Nhill.

Horsham

Due to the extreme heat forecasted for Monday 26 January 2026, the Australia Day morning event planned for the Sawyer Park has been relocated to the Horsham Town Hall, 71 Pynsent St, Horsham.

 The morning event will begin from 7am with a free community breakfast and live music from the Voices of the Wimmera and Horsham Rural City Band followed by the official ceremony commencing at 8am.

 The Australia Day ski event on the Wimmera River and the Summer Series event will proceed as scheduled.

 The safety and wellbeing of our community is our highest priority. We are monitoring weather conditions closely and will provide updates if any further changes are required.

Northern Grampians Shire Council

St Arnaud, Market Square: free community breakfast at 8am courtesy of St Arnaud’s Rotary and Lions clubs. Address at 9am by Australia Day Ambassador, followed by an Australian citizenship ceremony, awards presentations and traditional flag-raising ceremony. A Devonshire morning tea at St Arnaud Town Hall, courtesy of Friends of the Queen Mary Gardens, will follow. The event will move indoors at approximately 9.15am for speeches, a citizenship ceremony and awards ceremony. This will be followed by morning tea provided by the Friends of Queen Mary Gardens.

Stawell, Central Park: fThis event will move to the Stawell Town Hall Entertainment Centre, starting at 5pm with a community barbecue still provided by Stawell Lions Club. This will then be followed at 6pm with Australia Day and citizenship ceremonies. 

Navarre, Community Park, High Street: free community breakfast from 8am, flag raising and Australia Day ceremonies with guest speaker will follow at 10am. 

Marnoo, 2 Newall Street: community lunch at noon, provided by Marnoo CWA. Flag-raising ceremony followed by official Australia Day ceremony, which will include a guest speaker. RSVP for catering purposes to Marg Shaughnessy 0438 080 142 or Lois Johnson 0400 715 080.

Stuart Mill, community hall: official proceedings with a guest speaker at 7pm, followed by a light supper provided by the CWA. 

West Wimmera Shire Council

Dergholm, soldiers’ memorial hall: from 11am, a free barbecue lunch, music from Nathan ‘Skunk’ Gill, and an address from former VFL player John Mossops.

Edenhope, bowling club: from 11am, free barbecue lunch, kite-flying at Lake Wallace with the Edenhope Kite Flying Group, followed by barefoot bowls hosted by the Edenhope Lions and bowling clubs. Live music by Rob Tuncks and Sing Australia. Address by Australia Day Ambassador Emma Kealy, Member for Lowan.

Goroke, memorial hall: from 8am, barbecue breakfast, entertainment from Poppy Moyle Reid, and a shared morning tea.

Harrow: Johnny Mullagh Reserve will host the community from 11am with a shared barbecue lunch. Entertainment by Jessie Ferguson, and an address from Australia Day Ambassador Alan Perry, retiring Harrow police officer after 52 years of service.

Kaniva, swimming pool: breakfast barbecue by gold coin donation from 8am, live music from Sarah Hinge. Australia Day Ambassador Bill Hoskins, former Victorian policeman who spent five years stationed in Kaniva, will speak about his connection to rural communities.

Yarriambiack Shire Council

Warracknabeal, racecourse: Rotary Club of Warracknabeal will host from 8am until 11am, featuring a free cooked breakfast, morning tea, a Guides and Scouts Flag Parade, guest speaker, musicians, and community awards.

Hopetoun, memorial hall: breakfast from 8am, then from 9am a welcome, flag-raising and National Anthem, guest speaker, community awards, and cake-cutting.

Tempy, memorial park: breakfast and guest speaker, from 8am until 11am. 

Minyip, town square: from 8am until 11am, free breakfast followed by Australia Day formalities, featuring a guest speaker and Minyip citizen awards.

The entire January 21, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!