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Ambassadors

Australia Day Ambassadors

The Australia Day Ambassador Program, sponsored by Woolworths, sends high achieving Australians to community Australia Day celebrations all over NSW.

Australia Day Ambassadors are invited as guests of honour at celebrations around the state and are often part of the activities and events on the day. As part of the celebrations, Ambassadors are asked to deliver the keynote address which captures the true spirit of being Australian.

The Program commenced in 1990 with 9 Ambassadors which has steadily grown over the years. Each year, more than 170 Ambassadors take part in celebrations across the state from Auburn and Albury to Burwood and Broken Hill to Wyong, Yass and Young.

Australia Day Ambassadors come from a wide range of fields and include: sports heroes, celebrities, writers, artists, business people, environmentalists, scientists, and community workers.

The one thing that Ambassadors have in common is their love for Australia Day and their generosity in giving up their time. As Australia Day Ambassadors they get to experience the warmth and charm of communities across NSW as they celebrate Australia Day.

The Ambassador Program is proudly sponsored by:


Ambassador Credentials Council
Aaron Kearney Journalist Blayney Shire Council
Aden Ridgeway Former Politician / Indigenous Businessman Greater Taree City Council
Alan Terrell Board Member of the National Trust, Chairman of the Court House Wingecarribee Shire Council
Alan Whelpton President of International Life Saving Federation Lismore City Council
Alex Jones Co-founder and Brand Ambassador for Access Innovations Shoalhaven City Council
Alexandra Croak Dual Commonwealth Games Medallist Mid-Western Regional Council
Allanah Zitserman Writer/Producer, Winner of AFI Award Dubbo City Council
Amber Sherlock Channel 9 News Reader Campbelltown City Council
Amelia Farrugia Opera Singer Blacktown City Council
Amy Wilkins Children's TV Presenter Sutherland Shire Council
Andrew Heslop Founder of Neighbour Day Wentworth Shire Council
Andrew Lock Mountaineer Goulburn Mulwaree Shire Council – Marulan
Andrew Walsh Performing Arts Professional Holroyd City Council
Andy Paschalidis Sports Commentator Bathurst Regional Council
Anthony Ackroyd Comedian/Radio Presenter North Sydney Council
Barbra Asplet 2011 NSW Woman of the Year Warrumbungle Shire Council – Coonabarabran
Ben Elias Former NRL Player City of Canada Bay Council
Benita Collings Actress Tweed Shire Council
Bob Turner Sports and Business professional Goulburn Mulwaree Shire Council
Brian McGuigan A.M. Owner of McGuigan Wines Wellington Council
Bruce Elder Writer/Music Journalist Hunters Hill Council
Bruce Venables Actor/Author Upper Lachlan Shire Council
Byron Watson Australian Opera Singer Tenterfield Shire Council
Cameron Kerr CEO Taronga Zoo The United Australian Lebanese Movement Inc.
Catherine De Vrye Author Tamworth Regional Council – Tamworth
Charles Billich Artist Leeton Shire Council
Charlie Brown Fashion Designer Temora Shire Council
Cheryl Koenig 2009 NSW Woman of the Year, Author, Public Speaker Griffith City Council
Cindy Pan Media Doctor, Author, Columnist, Radio Presenter Bega Valley Shire Council
Claire Tonkin Drama Executive, Network Ten Carrathool Shire Council
Clio Cresswell Academic/Author Oberon Council
Clyde Campbell Founder of Shake It Up Australia Foundation Mosman City Council
Colin Scotts 1st Australian National Football League Player (USA) Warringah Council - Forestville
Craig Mitchell Local Sheep & Cattle Farmer Cooma-Monaro Shire Council
Darren Coggan Singer/Actor Uralla Australia Day Committee
David Furner NRL Coach, Canberra Raiders Queanbeyan City Council
Davyd Thomas AO, CSC, RANR Former Deputy Chief Of Navy/Now In The Reserves Cootamundra Shire Council
Debbie Watson Olympic Medalist - Water Polo Greater Hume Shire Council
Deborah Knight TV Presenter Wollongong City Council
Denise Beckwith Paralympic Medalist - Swimming, Sydney 2000 Penrith Council
Dermot O'Gorman C.E.O W.W.F Shellharbour City Council
Digby Moran Artist Tamworth Regional Council – Barraba
Don Burke TV Presenter - Burke's Backyard Coonamble Shire Council - Coonamble
Donald Hazelwood Concert Master/Violinist Inverell Shire Council
Donnie Sutherland OAM Radio Presenter Newcastle City Council
Donny Galella Fashion Designer/Stylist Marrickville Council
Elaine Henry Chair of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth Hurstville City Council
Fiona Given Police Officer for NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council
Frank Coletta Channel 10 Personality Clarence Valley Council
Gabi Hollows Orthoptist / Fred Hollows Foundation The Hills Shire Council
Gary O'Callaghan Radio Presenter Gunnedah Shire Council
Gerry Tatrai Ultra-marathon Cyclist Cobar Shire Council
Glenn A Baker Rock Music Historian Bland Shire Council
Glenn Sargeant Finalist - 2005 Australian of the Year Gwydir Shire Council – Warialda
Glenn Wheeler TV Personality Parramatta City Council
Gordon Bray AM Rugby Commentator Parkes Shire Council
Graham Long CEO The Wayside Chapel Great Lakes Council
Graham Ross TV Presenter Wyong Shire Council
Greg Grainger TV Presenter and Host of Travel Oz Cooma-Monaro Shire Council
Hayden Quinn Masterchef Contestant 2011 Warringah Council - Dee Why
Henri Szeps OAM Actor Cabonne Shire Council
Iva Davies Singer / Composer Port Macquarie Hastings Council
Jacinta Tynan Author, News Presenter & Columnist Broken Hill Council
James Bracey Sky News Sports Presenter Wollondilly Shire Council
James Pittar Endurance Swimmer Harden Shire Council
Janelle Bloom Food Writer, Channel 10's Ready Steady Cook Cessnock City Council
Jeff Sayle Rugby Union Great Balranald Shire Council
Jeremy Kewley Actor Glen Innes Severn Council
Jeremy Rolleston Vancouver Winter Olympics Penrith Council
Jill Bruce Author, Wilderness Society Award Recipient Upper Hunter Shire Council – Scone
Jim Williams Australian Rugby Union - Assistant Coach Fairfield City Council
Joanna McMillan Radio, Nutritionist, Media Commentator Liverpool City Council
John Harper Founder of Mate Helping Mate Coolamon Shire Council
John Moriarty Chairman and Co-founder of The Jumbana Group Tumut Shire Council
John Stanley Radio Presenter Warringah Council - Narrabeen
Jon Dee Environmentalist / Founder & Chairman of 'Do Something' Hawkesbury City Council
Jono Coleman Comedian Willoughby City Council
Judy Nunn Actress / Author Upper Lachlan Shire Council
Judy Stone Entertainer Gosford City Council
Julie Iles Paralympian - Discus, Shot Put, Javelin - Athens 2004 Blue Mountains City Council
Justin Herald Author/Entrepreuneur/Motivational Speaker Bankstown City Council
Kamahl AM Singer/Entertainer Rockdale City Council
Karen Banton CEO of Bernie Banton Foundation Waverley Council
Krystal Barter Founder of Pink Hope and NSW Finalist for the Young Australian of the Year Awards 2012 Cowra Shire Council
Krystel Keller Singer/Actress Holroyd City Council
Libby Hathorn Author Kyogle Shire Council – Kyogle
Lilian Spencer Co-Director: Australian Youth Climate Coalition Dungog Shire Council
Lisa Sthalekar Australian Women's Cricketer/NSW Captain Camden Council
Lorrae Desmond Actress Hornsby Shire Council
Lyn Thorpe NSW Senior of the Year Tamworth Regional Council – Nundle
Lyndey Milan Celebrity Chef Orange City Council
Malcolm Coutts CEO and Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Junee Shire Council
Maria Venuti Entertainer Pittwater Council
Mark Tonelli Olympian Swimmer/Journalist/TV Presenter Wakool Shire Council
Mary-Ruth Mendel Speech and Language Pathologist Albury City Council
Matty Shields Dancer and Australia'S Got Talent Contestant 2011 Brewarrina Shire Council
Max Cullen Actor Yass Valley Council
Melinda Smith News Reporter Maitland City Council
Melissa Medlicott Olympian - Athletics Muswellbrook Shire Council
Michael Bartels Chairperson, NSW Council for Intellectual Disability Hay Shire Council
Michael Crossland Motivational Speaker Bombala Shire Council
Mike Bailey Journalist/Broadcaster/Weather Presenter Gwydir Shire Council – Bingara
Mike Conway Managing Director of The Wiggles Woollahra Municipal Council
Nicholas Gleeson Adventurer/ Paralympian - Athletics, 1984 New York Narromine Shire Council
Nicholas Gleeson Adventurer/ Paralympian - Athletics, 1984 New York Narromine Shire Council - Tomingley
Nina Funnell Anti Violence Campaigner Kyogle Shire Council – West of the Ranges
Noel Cleal Rugby League Great Central Darling Shire Council
Noeline Brown Entertainer Warren Shire Council
Paul Brock AM Director, Learning And Development Research, NSW Department of Education and Communities The Hills Shire Council
Paul Featherstone Senior Instructor for NSW Ambulance SCAT Team Narrabri Shire Council
Paul Fenech Comedian/Actor/Writer Burwood Council
Paula Duncan AM Actor Port Macquarie Hastings Council
Penny Cook Actress/TV Presenter Eurobodalla Shire Council (Batemans Bay & Moruya)
Peter Hadfield OAM Olympian - Track And Field Nambucca Shire Council
Peter Herbert Screenwriter/Producer Boorowa Council
Peter McLean NSW CEO - Keep Australia Beautiful Lachlan Shire Council
Peter Spitzer CEO of the Humour Foundation Eurobodalla Shire Council (Narooma)
Peter Wilkins TV Presenter Deniliquin Sun Festival
Ray Warren Radio Presenter Young Shire Council
Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas Former Deputy Chief of Navy Cootamundra Shire Council
Rick Timperi Olympian - Boxing Armidale Dumaresq Council
Robyn Moore Voice of Blinky Bill Auburn Council & Sydney Olympic Park Authority
Ronni Kahn Event Organiser and Founder of OzHarvest Wagga Wagga City Council
Ross Walker Radio Presenter & Cardiologist Ballina Shire Council
Rupert Guinness Wakely Award Recipient, Writer for the Sydney Morning Herald Tamworth Regional Council – Manilla
Russell Adcock Indigenous Whip-Cracker Richmond Valley Council
Sam Atwell Actor/Director Liverpool Plains Shire Council
Sandra Bates Director of Ensemble Theatre Randwick City Council
Sandra Morgan-Beavis Olympic Medalist - Swimming, Melbourne 1956 Walgett Shire Council
Sarah Garnett Founder of the Benjamin Andrew Footpath Library Upper Hunter Shire Council – Merriwa
Scott McGregor TV Presenter Ryde City Council
Shirley Bazley OAM Occupational Therapist, Local Hero Bega Valley Shire Council - Merimbula
Simon Tedeschi Master Concert Pianist/YAOTY Finalist 2006 Kogarah Council
Simon Westaway Actor Forbes Shire Council
Special Olympics Dance Performance Group Dance Performance Group Snowy River Shire Council
Steve Bastoni Actor Kiama Municipal Council
Steve Mortimer Rugby League Great Bourke Shire Council
Stuart Maunder Artistic Director of Opera Australia Gloucester Shire Council
Sue Woolfe Writer, Editor, Teacher Guyra Shire Council
Susanne Gervay OAM Children's Author Port Stephens Council
Susie Elelman TV Presenter/Media Personality Murrumbidgee Shire Council
Susie Maroney OAM Ultra-marathon Swimmer Sutherland Shire Council
Terry Clark Member of the Dubbo Support Group for the Royal Flying Doctors Service Trangie Action Group
The Hon. John Watkins CEO of Alzheimers Australia Gilgandra Shire Council
Thomas Keneally Author Manly Council
Todd Greenberg CEO Bulldogs Rugby League Football Club Canterbury City Council
Tony Hasham Businessman/Philanthropist Strathfield Municipal Council
Tony Tringingham Anti Drug Campaigner Moree Plains Shire
Tracey Spicer News Presenter Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council
Valerie Parv Author Narrandera Shire Council
Vanessa Crisp Artist/Designer Lithgow City Council
Viv Kartsounis Founder of Shoes for Planet Earth Upper Hunter Shire Council – Murrurundi
Warren Potent Olympic Shooter Warrumbungle Shire Council – Coolah
Warwick Nowland World Superbike Champion Palerang Shire Council – Braidwood
Warwick Nowland World Superbike Champion Palerang Shire Council – Bungendore
Warwick Nowland World Superbike Champion Palerang Shire Council – Captains Flat Community
Wayne Scott Kermond Actor/Dancer/Performer Ashfield Municipal Council
Yianni Johns Artist Tamworth Regional Council – Bendemeer