Dr Jenner will speak at Australia Day celebrations at Rainbow, Jeparit, Dimboola and Nhill about what being Australian means to him.

Dr Jenner, a community paediatrician, has qualifications and experience in family therapy as well as medicine.

He is the founder and president of Gateways Support Services, which helps families deal with a family member having a disability, and Hope Bereavement Care, a program for people who have suffered the death of a child.

He was the 2007 regional winner of Victoria’s Local Hero award in the Australian of the Year Awards.

Hindmarsh Shire Council chief executive Tony Doyle said the council was excited to have Dr Jenner as its ambassador.

“Dr Jenner is an excellent ambassador for regional Victoria and a community-minded Australian,” he said.

“We are privileged to be able to hear him speak and host him in our shire.”

The first Australia Day event in the shire will be at Rainbow, with a barbecue breakfast starting at 7.30am at the Lions Den in Taverner Street. 

The Rainbow celebrations will include award presentations, flag-raising and a citizenship ceremony for a Rainbow family. 

A celebration at Jeparit will follow, with a barbecue breakfast starting at 9am at Menzies Square. 

Official proceedings will start at 9.30am. 

At Dimboola, morning tea and the traditional Australia Day ceremony will be at the Old Shire Hall forecourt in Lloyd Street from 11am. 

There will also be a family fun night and concert from 5pm at the Dimboola Recreation Reserve.

Nhill will host a barbecue lunch from noon in Goldsworthy Park, with the official proceedings starting at 12.30pm.