Australia Day Awards - Community Event of the Year 2022

The Australia Day Community Event of the Year Award is presented to the person or group that has staged the most outstanding community event during the year.

The focus of this Award is to acknowledge an event that has brought the community together and raised community spirit.

The winner of the Australia Day Community Event of the Year Award for 2022 was Weymouth Sandcastle Event Australia Day 2021.

Weymouth is a small seaside coastal village, with a community of permanent residents and holiday makers, the Weymouth Sandcastles event was held on Australia Day 26^th January 2021.

The event has become very popular within the area and far beyond, as it helps to promote and encourage creativeness, diversity, and community pride.

The Sandcastle competition, has become an anticipated and successful annual event on the Weymouth calendar. It has grown substantially over recent years and is the result of great teamwork from all involved. With the aim to represent everything that is good about being an Australian, freedom of choice, respect for others and caring for the environment.

This event has demonstrated a great team effort from all those involved, from obtaining the permits, planning the time of the event to coincide with the tidal movements of the river, deciding on an Aussie theme, BBQ, raffle and ensuring everything complies with current Covid regulations. The beach running races and beach dancing competitions, have been great recent additions to the event.

Leanne Purchase on behalf of the Weymouth Progress Association and Australia Day Ambassador Robert Clifford