After entertainment from the Horsham Brass Band and the Sing Australia Choir, and Welcome to Country by Barengi Gadjin Land Council elder Jennifer Beer, Susan Hobbs from the Horsham Christian Ministers Association delivered the Australia Day reflection.

“For this community, 2018 has had its highs and lows. There were tragedies that rocked us and celebrations that heartened us,” Ms Hobbs said. 

“We also remember it is 10 years since the Black Saturday fires and their impacts on this community. Australia Day is also a mixture of realities.

“We gather together to celebrate all the great things in this country, but we also acknowledge the terrible realities, both current and in the past that occur and have occurred in this land.”

She referenced the Uniting Church’s inaugural Day of Mourning last Sunday, where services were held across the country reflecting on the profound effect european settlement has had on Australia’s First Peoples.

Either side of the flag raising, the Horsham Brass Band then provided their renditions of some classic Australian tunes including “Waltzing Matilda”.

Horsham’s Australia Day Ambassador Matthew Albert continued the emphasis on reflection, particularly on the indigenous community, in his address.

The barrister talked about his time working with Australian Lawyers for Remote Aboriginal Rights representing the Northern Territory town of Santa Teresa, whose residents had been affected by the territory government’s intervention of 2005 and are now suing the government over the decrepit state of housing.

"Jasmine (resident) states that she had an alarm set by her bed that went off every four hours through the night, because every four hours she had to go to the bathroom to mop up the horrendously leaking pipework. If she didn’t it would seep through the laundry, the kitchen and into the bedrooms,” Mr Albert said.

He said his time with the case made him think about how people can stick true to the words of the national anthem.

“Each of us in my view must be aware of how we can in our own small way, advance Australia fairer: To make our Commonwealth a place of common wealth,” Mr Albert said.

Mayor Mark Radford and Lowan MP Emma Kealy then welcomed five new Australian citizens.

Master of ceremonies Trevor Bysouth wrapped up proceedings at 9:45am, as the sun started to bite and the Corellas reached a crescendo.