THE Hunter's Australia Day celebrations were a patchwork of gatherings from citizenship ceremonies to billycart derbies, set against a backdrop of stifling heat.
Newcastle's Foreshore was awash with green and gold, and red, white and blue.
Many took part in organised activities such as citizenship ceremonies and the traditional cross-harbour swim, while others simply soaked up the atmosphere.
A record 168 entrants dived in for the 700-metre swim from Stockton to Newcastle Harbour, won by
Stockton's James Rowlatt, 15.
Merewether's Jarrod Killey took out the 1400-metre return swim from Queens Wharf to Stockton and back again
Warabrook couple Atif and Misbah Bhatti were at the Carriage Sheds for a civic ceremony where Mr Bhatti became an Australian citizen.
Originally from Pakistan, he has been in Australia three years.
Renew Newcastle creative arts project founder Marcus Westbury was named Newcastle's citizen of
the year and leukaemia survivor and Cancer Council volunteer Louise Mackay the young citizen.
Across Newcastle, residents shrugged off calls from some RSL figures not to drape themselves in
flags, and wore their patriotism on their sleeves, and elsewhere.
Bar Beach sisters Kayla Bates,
Naomi Fawcett and Patricia Fawcett donned tops, ties, thongs, and badges coloured with green
and gold and the flag.
``We're celebrating being Australian,'' Patricia said.
``We're just doing it to show we're proud.''
Newcastle residents Carole
Powell, Dorothy Twyford and Judith Meadows served sausage sandwiches on Australian-
themed plates and serviettes, with green and
gold balloons hung from trees at their park barbecue.
New Lambton's Dave Barnett and Lorraine Hadley, of Hamilton South, cruised in their 1950 Packard, with a 1950s surfboard on the roof racks.
``It doesn't come out very often but every Australia Day I put the flags on and go for a cruise,'' Mr Barnett said.
Further south, on Lake Macquarie, 10,000 people packed
Speers Point Park for an afternoon of ice cream, face painting and canoe races.
Sixty people from countries ranging from the Ukraine to Sri Lanka became Australian citizens.
Co-ordinator Nicole Charlesworth said this year's celebration had shifted from a party to a community event called the ``Lake Macquarie Festival on
Australia Day''.
``It's to be more respectful to our Aboriginal population who do not mark Australia Day,'' she said.
"They're changing it to more of a civic event rather than a big celebration.''
Main act Deep Creek had three Aboriginal performers, and Samba Frog and African Drumming added to the multicultural atmosphere.
Some people were disappointed there were no fireworks,
while others commented on the lack of amusement rides.
Ms Charlesworth said Lake Macquarie council opted for free children's activities rather than fireworks to make it a more community-oriented event.
At Port Stephens celebrators soaked up a sizzling day by the waterways.
At Nelson Bay, cruise boats slid past an official event in Neil Carroll Park at Fly Point.
Spectators enjoyed a line-up that included a mini surf carnival.
The region welcomed 39 new Australians, and Tanilba Bay's former teacher and principal Fran Corner was named Port Stephens citizen of the year.
Ms Corner started and produces the Tilligerry newsletter, and has been involved in Tidy Towns and other committees for 35 years.
Young citizen of the year was Reece Moynihan.
Maitland's punishing heat didn't deter an estimated 10,000 people from attending Maitland
Park.
Most arrived before 9am to claim the best vantage points for the day's activities and awards.
Charity workers Mitchell Price and Val Jones took out the junior citizen and citizen of the year awards respectively.
A teary Mrs Jones had not intended to be at the ceremony, doubting she had a chance of taking out the honour.
Maitland City Council's Emma Shanks said people rolled up from 8.30am for a free breakfast.
``Most of them had arrived by 9am, many with their own marquees and barbecues,'' she said.
``It was busy all day with line-
ups for the rides and stalls.''
Bridges Hill Park at Cessnock was converted to a grassy race track for the Cessnock Lions Club billycart derby.
The local fire brigade won the Emergency Services Challenge, beating the Volunteer Rescue
Association by 0.4 of a second.
Former councillor Catherine Parsons and her husband Warren were named citizens of the year for their work in
coalfields communities.
Mr Parsons said the award had come as a shock.
``To get this honour is absolutely unbelievable,'' he said
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