They gathered at Solomontown Beach on Tuesday to reflect on the meaning of the event and celebrate being Australians.

From early this morning, hundreds of people will gather at the beach for activities including breakfast, flag-raising and a raft race.

Singer-guitarist Sue Chivell was born and bred in Port Pirie.

She has the Australian welcoming and friendly smile and accepts the many different cultures in our city.

Jo Warren spent almost all her life in Port Pirie and she says she is proud to be an Aboriginal Australian.

She spoke while standing on the jetty cuddling her children Anja, 8, and Kedias, 17 months.

“I feel very lucky to be an Australian,” she said.

“You see so many other countries where people struggle and don’t have a good lifestyle and I feel sorry for them.

“I also feel lucky to be Aboriginal. I wish I could go back in time and have a chance to experience how my people used to live.

“In the meantime, it is good to go back ‘bushing’ sometimes.”

Saeid Safavi, who was a refugee from Iran more than 10 years ago, has no desire to go back in time. “I got my Australian citizenship five years ago and I love Australia,” he said.

“It was not easy to start my life here. I started from zero and now I am happy in Port Pirie, have my own business and my wife and son.

“What made it easier from me is the fact that Australia is such a multicultural country and I never suffered any racism. People accept different cultures here.”

At the beach, the ceremony will start with the mayoral address and raising of the flag with Air Force Cadets, Army Cadets and Scouts, followed by a thanksgiving service by the Ministers Association. The crowd will have a delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs and sausages cooked by the Lions Club of Port Pirie.

The beach activities will begin at 9am, with sand castle competitions, thong- throwing, watermelon-eating, a Coke-A-Thon, bucket relay, tug-of-war and raft race.

At 11.30 am, there will be a naturalisation ceremony, followed by the presentation of Australia Day awards and beach activity prizes, and cutting of the cake.

Horse rides, jumping castles, face painting, a balloon artist and animal nursery will keep the children entertained.