The community gathered at 8am for a flag raising ceremony with air force cadets, army cadets and scouts.

The Lions Club of Port Pirie cooked a great breakfast with some volunteers arriving as early as 6.30am.

Prayers were read and the crowd sang along to The Great Southland at a thanksgiving service led by the Ministers Association.

Reverend Bob Britton said it had been a “fantastic morning” representing the diverse culture of Australia while Pastor Roger Kleinig said it was “great to be able to celebrate what a blessed culture we are”.

As the day went on, more people arrived and locals crowded the beach for sand castle competitions, thong throwing, watermelon eating, coke drinking, a bucket relay and tug-of-war. The White Pointers crew won the Jim Mortlock Memorial Raft Race.

Mayor Brenton Vanstone said the day was an occasion to give thanks for our extraordinary blessings, for the beauty of the land, the diversity of its wildlife and its natural resources and strength of its people.