Local comedian honoured to be selected as city’s Australia Day Ambassador

Local Aboriginal comedian Dane Simpson has described being chosen as Wagga Wagga’s Australia Day Ambassador an incredible honour.

Mr Simpson’s announcement as the city’s Ambassador comes as preparations ramp up for the Australia Day long weekend of events and activities in Wagga Wagga.

The fun begins from Thursday 24 January with free entry at the Oasis Aquatic Centre for a screening of The Greatest Showman, followed by the Australia Day Awards at the Civic Theatre on Friday 25 January.

On Australia Day, there will be a free community breakfast in the Victory Memorial Gardens along with Aussie activities and entertainment, as well as a special citizenship ceremony in the Civic Centre Arcade.

“It is an incredible honour to be the city’s Australia Day Ambassador. I think it is absolutely amazing to be representing my community,” Mr Simpson said.

“I am most looking forward to giving a speech at the community awards and meeting all the new Australians receiving their citizenship.

“I just would like to say a massive thank you to my partner Eleanor, my family, my friends and the Wagga Wagga community for all the support.”

The comedian has had a huge 2018, including a sell-out run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the televised gala, appearing on Have You Been Paying Attention? and rounding it out with shows at the Falls Festival.

In 2019 he will be appearing at the Perth and Adelaide Fringe Festivals and the Melbourne International Comedy Festival again, along with the Wagga Comedy Fest and continue to focus on growing the Riverina Comedy Club.

Nominations for the Australia Day Awards will be announced next week, with community members to be recognised across three categories - Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year (27 and younger) and the Walk of Honour Award. The awards ceremony will also feature a free concert form the Australian Army Band Kapooka and the national anthem competition finalists.

For more information for what’s on over the Australia Day long weekend, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/australiaday.

2019 Australia Day Events

Thursday 24 January

• Free outdoor picnic at the Oasis Aquatic Centre and screening of The Greatest Showman, 7pm to 8.30pm

Friday 25 January

• Free 2019 Australia Day Awards ceremony at the Civic Theatre, 7pm to 9.30pm

Saturday 26 January

• Triple M free community breakfast at the Victory Memorial Gardens, 7am to 9am
• Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at the Civic Centre, From 8.30am
• Hit 93.1 free Australia Day celebrations at the Victory Memorial Gardens, 7am to 10am

About Dane Simpson

Dane Simpson is one of Australia's rising stars in comedy. He has toured around Australia doing various comedy shows. He has appeared on ABC's Comedy UpLate.  In 2018, he starred in the hit standup comedy show "Aborigi-LOL" which sold out its entire season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Dane also appeared at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala. At the end of 2018 he toured Western Australia with his variety show "Great Danes".  Dane Simpson performed at the Commonwealth Games Festival and you might have seen him on ‘Have you been paying attention?’. In 2019 Dane will be back with his hit show Aborigi-LOL at both the Perth FringeWorld and Adelaide Fringe festivals, he will also be performing his first solo show ‘Origins’ at the 2019 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.