Citizenship
ceremony
Seventy or more Penrith residents acquire Australian citizenship at Penrith Council on Australia Day this Saturday, January 26.
The ceremony begins in the council chambers at 10am, followed by a traditional Aussie barbecue in the landing area at about at about 11.15am.
The new citizens and their guests are expected to total about 250 people.
Every year Penrith Council holds several citizenship ceremonies awarding, on average, citizenship to 800 residents.
Australia Day is the most popular day for citizenship ceremonies.
This Australia Day more than 17,000 people are expected to become citizens at about 430 ceremonies throughout the country.
Details: penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/ausday.
Cast eyes
to the skies
Once the sun has set on another Australia Day, finish off your celebrations with a visit to the University of Western Sydney's Penrith campus observatory.
From 8pm on Saturday the university will host a special family astronomy night with a talk on the role that astronomy played in Captain Cook's journey to Australia.
Guests will watch a 3D movie and view the wonders of the night sky through the 24-inch computerised telescope.
Details: 8pm-10pm, UWS Observatory (Building AO), Werrington North campus, Great Western Highway, Werrington. Adults $15, Children/concessions $10, Family $40. Bookings essential.
Contact: Roslyn McCourt, 4736 0135 (9am-2pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday) or book online through the observatory's What's On webpage.
He's a Shaw thing
Penrith Council has secured Tim Shaw as the 2013 Australia Day ambassador for Penrith.
Known as Australia's best contemporary salesman, he's also an actor, talk radio and television host and author.
Mr Shaw, who lives in Sydney, hosts his own national talk radio program on Fairfax Radio and has been in the summer series of George and Paul, the weekend talk radio program.
He's come far since starting as an autoelectrical apprentice at 17.
Mr Shaw said: "I encourage Penrith City residents to participate in Australia Day 2013 at Penrith Lakes. I've been an Australia Day Council ambassador since 1996 and each year I enjoy it more."
To plan your day visit penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/ausday.
Try your hand
at the joys
of kayaking
On Saturday Penrith Whitewater will be conducting a free Come and Try Kayaking day on the lake.
Penrith Whitewater's marketing manager, Simonetta Lo Po' said: "Kayaking is great fun and we would like to invite the community to try it for themselves.
"Activities will take place under the guidance of Penrith Whitewater instructors, some of whom are members of the Australian slalom team.
"So if you are curious about the kayaking, this is a great opportunity to give it a try.
"We hope Jessica Fox's silver medal London Olympic performance will inspire youngsters to take up the sport."
Participation will be free and will be offered on a first in, first served basis.
There is no need to book, just turn up with secure footwear and gear to get wet in.
A variety of equipment will be available to try and activities will take place between 10am and 3pm on the warm-up lake at Penrith Whitewater Stadium.
Information about the Junior Kayak Instruction program will be available and those interested in joining, can register for term 1 on the day.
"We had a very positive response from our last Come and Try Day in September, and received a number of registrations on the day for term 4 last year," Ms Lo Po' said.
"We're looking forward to building on these numbers and enrolling more kids from the local area and exposing them to the fun of paddling."
Details: 4730 4333 or visit penrithwhitewater.com.au .