Dancing with the Stars' Jarryd Byrne to be Wagga's Australia Day Ambassador

8 September 2015

For immediate release

Dancing with the Stars’ Jarryd Byrne to be Wagga’s Australia Day Ambassador

Professional dancer Jarryd Byrne will waltz into Wagga Wagga for the city’s Australia Day celebrations next January.

Fresh from finishing third in last night’s Dancing with the Stars finale with partner Ash Pollard (My Kitchen Rules), Mr Byrne has today been announced as Wagga’s 2016 Australia Day Ambassador.

Mr Byrne grew up in Wagga and has been dancing since the age of eight, having trained in ballroom, Latin American, salsa and hip hop.

As Ambassador, Mr Byrne will give an address at the Australia Day awards ceremony on 24 January and attend events on Australia Day.

“When I think of Australia Day, I think of sporting stars or successful people in the community,” Mr Byrne said

“To have my dancing and my TV and stage presence acknowledged in that sort of calibre is a huge honour.

“I have such strong ties to Wagga and so much love for Wagga, my family’s still there.

“It’s going to be amazing to be a part of Australia Day in Wagga.”

Mr Byrne has been hard at work since the Dancing with the Stars premiere in July including choreographing five dances in the lead up to the final two shows.

Having just finished his third season on Dancing with the Stars, Mr Byrne is today heading to Brisbane for his role as Nathan Starkey in Baz Lurhmann’s Strictly Ballroom the Musical.

With such a busy life, Mr Byrne said Australia Day was a chance to reflect.

“Australia Day for me means getting together with the people I love and celebrating where I live, who I live with and the people I’m surrounded by,” he said.

“I have a busy life and it’s a significant day to acknowledge why I work so hard.”

Mr Byrne moved to Sydney at 18 to develop his dancing and went on to compete nationally and internationally.

He went on to tour the US with Jason Gilkison’s Broadway spectacular Burn the Floor and performed in Shake, Rattle and Roll.

He made his debut on Dancing with the Stars in 2013 with Jesinta Campbell and last year had a shot at the mirror ball trophy with pop star Ricki-Lee Coulter.

For more about Australia Day in Wagga, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/AustraliaDay.

Give someone legend status – nominate now for 2016 Australia Day Awards

If you know a dead set legend, nominate them now for the 2016 Australia Day Awards.

If your mate is a fair dinkum Aussie, just a few words on the back of a postcard is enough to get the nomination ball rolling.

Drop off the special Australia Day nomination postcards at Council and the staff will contact you to with the next step in the process.

2016 Australia Day Awards categories

Citizen of the Year: For outstanding service to the community

Young Citizen of the Year: 27 years and younger, for outstanding service to the community

Walk of Honour Award: For substantial contributors (past or present) to the Wagga Wagga LGA. Nominees can be of any age, living or deceased and must have resided in Wagga Wagga LGA for a period of at least five years.

Ted Ryder Memorial Award: For contributions to sporting organisations through administration and general service.

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Contact Josh Lang 6926 9190/0437 385 892 or media@wagga.nsw.gov.au or follow us on Twitter - @WaggaCouncil