An estimated 6000 people made their way through Maitland Park, the epicenter of the city’s festivities, on Thursday to enjoy a snag, a laugh and some national pride.

Some of Maitland’s most selfless residents were recognised as part of the Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year awards and 42 people officially became new Australian citizens.

One of those residents, Zimbabwe-born Edna Mudariki, said she loved Australia’s multicultural society and became a citizen because she wanted to be a part of it.

“I feel happy,” she said.

“I’ve got family around here, I work here – I work in the aged care community. It feels good to be Australian. It means a lot.”

Maitland Australia Day ambassador, KOFM breakfast radio host Tanya Wilks, spoke about her connection to the Hunter, the place of the back yard in Australian culture and what being Australian meant to her.

“Being Australian isn’t easily defined in a few pars under ‘a’ in Wikipedia, but on Australia Day it’s worth giving it some thought,” she said.

“To me, being Australian means standing up and welcoming those who seek to make our place their home – as long as they toe the line.

“It means having an easy-going and laid back attitude, but not to the point where we’re taken for granted or disrespected. 

“Still working hard, but enjoying ourselves at the same time. Having a laugh, especially at ourselves, and not taking life too seriously, which when you consider how serious the business of life is in other parts of the world  – seeking food, clean water, escaping torture and torment – the words ‘lucky country’ aren’t just a throw away. They do take on real meaning.”

The Mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, said the theme for the city’s 2017 Australia Day celebrations was ‘the great Australian back yard’.

“We did everything [in the back yard] from marbles to basketball to cricket, including hitting the ball over the fence and having to go and ask if we could get the ball back,” he said. “No matter where people live and how they choose to celebrate our national day, it’s a celebration for everyone.”