Australia Day in pictures: The Mid West recognises local legends

Towns big and small across the Mid West put on celebrations of their own for Australia Day, gathering locals, and welcoming some new ones.

Temperatures hovered around the mid-30Cs, which made the community pool or the beach an attractive venue for a swim, a barbecue, and for some towns a fireworks display into the night.

The traditional citizenship ceremony took many forms. Geraldton hosted 32, while Exmouth saw just two locals take the plunge into becoming fully-fledged Australians.

The region took time to thank our volunteers, with Citizen of the Year awards handed out to those who went above and beyond in the service of their community. Between youth, seniors, and community groups, many nominees dedicated countless hours and a huge amount of energy helping their town recover from the devastation of cyclone Seroja.

It was a time to reflect too, with Indigenous leaders highlighting the importance of recognising our colonial past, and coming together with people of all backgrounds to celebrate what we have.