Nico and Sherlyn Sanchez were among about a dozen people granted Australian citizenship in Broken Hill on Friday after the couple moved directly from the Philippines to the regional city about five years ago.
The transition to outback living was a major adjustment for Mr and Ms Sanchez, who were initially struck by Broken Hill's lack of services.
The Sanchez family soon got used to slower living and the country way of life, Collin Sanchez said. (Stuart Walmsley/AAP PHOTOS)
But the Sanchez family soon got used to slower living and the country way of life, Mr Sanchez said.
"I love the people because they are genuine," he told AAP.
"It's a big milestone for both of us to be an Australian and it's our privilege ... (and our responsibility) to prove that we are good citizens."
The Broken Hill Hotel was among local venues hosting Australia Day-themed festivities including thong throwing and a lamington-eating contest, with fly-in fly-out electrician Jesse Smith among those joining friends for a drink.
Fly-in fly-out electrician Jesse Smith was among those joining friends for a drink at the pub. (Stuart Walmsley/AAP PHOTOS)
Many locals opted to celebrate at home ahead of the party kicking off at local venues in earnest on Friday night but Mr Smith chose to spend the afternoon out in favour of an early finish.
"I did a half day of work and wanted to come out and catch up with people," he said.
Before Australia Day at Copi Hollow Caravan Park at Menindee, holidaymakers were settling in for the long weekend and looking forward to a Saturday carp tossing competition hosted by the local speed boat club.
Long-time visitor Debbie Dannatt decked out her caravan in Australia Day-themed merchandise.
Debbie Dannatt decked out her caravan in Australia Day-themed merchandise at Copi Hollow. (Stuart Walmsley/AAP PHOTOS)
"They used to have (carp tossing) years ago and it all stopped but they've just brought it back to bring people back together," she said.
At Tamworth, Australian flags adorned tents and caravans at the Riverside campgrounds by the Peel River as thousands of people spent the national day at the Country Music Festival.
Long-time friends Lenore Klumpp and Janelle Pollack escaped the morning heat huddled under a shade cloth in a group wearing Australian-themed wigs, hats and sweatbands.
"We'll be having a drink, having a dance," Ms Pollack said.
"But more dancing than drinking."
Aunty Sandra Clark said local Aboriginal people want to celebrate Australia Day, not on January 26. (Stuart Walmsley/AAP PHOTOS)
The mood was sombre in other parts of the community as people marked Invasion Day on Friday.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Price briefly attended Broken Hill's Australia Day ceremony on Friday but local Indigenous elders felt excluded from the proceedings.
Broken Hill City Council in 2023 decided to stop paying Traditional Owners for performing the welcome to country - a cultural protocol missing from Friday morning's Australia Day program.
Wilyakali elder Aunty Sandra Clark said local Aboriginal people wanted to celebrate Australia Day but not on January 26.
The local council was constantly missing opportunities to draw from the wisdom and culture of Indigenous peoples, she said.
Cory Paulson said Indigenous people wanted the opportunity to move forward as a nation. (Stuart Walmsley/AAP PHOTOS)
"Today, there was no communication or invitation for Traditional Owners to come and participate, as we have in the past," Aunty Sandra told AAP.
"They keep saying 'as Australians', but it's not inclusive of everyone. They keep overlooking Traditional Owners around protocols for the inclusion of us all.
"Where was the phone call for council to say, 'here's your invitation?'"
Local resident Cory Paulson, a Worimi and Minjinbul man, said Indigenous people in Broken Hill and elsewhere wanted the opportunity to move forward as a nation.
The First Nation peoples' invitation was there, they were just waiting for it to be accepted, he said.
