It was fun in the partial sun on Monday, as the weather threatened to hinder the plans of hundreds of people, who headed for pockets of foreshore across the metro area for Australia Day.
At Shelley Beach, the City of Canning’s Australia Day Family Fun Day had something for everyone — including four-legged friends — with activities and entertainment spread across the foreshore.
Huge lines quickly formed for the face-painting and petting zoo, as did registration for the annual puppy parade competition.
Karen and Emmie Lawson brought their two dogs, decked out in their best tutus and bows of red, white and blue.
The family attended the local event last year, but it was their first time entering Buddy and Jersey into the parade.
“(There’s) lots of community and people around,” Ms Lawson said of the event.
“It’s nice that it’s in the day time. We come mainly for the dogs, because it’s dog friendly.”
Auspire ambassador Pedus Eweama spoke about Australia Day as a “day to reflect on what it is to be an Australian”.
“Australia is so much more than the events of one day, it’s about where we have come from, who we are as a nation and who we want to be,” Dr Eweama said.
He said recognising the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the past 65,000 years was an important part of the “evolving story of our collective resilience” as we work towards “shared opportunities and prosperity”.
Damian Shearer and daughter Alana waited patiently in line for the petting zoo, staying sunsmart with an Aussie brolly hat.
“We came for the dog parade mainly. My daughter loves animals,” Mr Shearer said.
“She likes chickens. She loves her chickens at home, we’ve got silkies.”
The petting zoo proved a fan favourite, but the puppy parade was the main attraction of the day.
Although cloudy conditions threatened to rain on the puppy parade, sunshine prevailed as 25 good boys and girls strutted their stuff for a chance at winning vouchers and a doggy hamper.
Hounds big and small, fluffy and scruffy graced the stage, but it was one giant fluffball that took home the grand prize, Pyrenees Mountain dog, Storm.
At Matilda Bay, there were boats, jet skis, paddle boards and more.
Kids jumped off the jetty in the intermittent sunshine, while others had a leisurely paddle in the shallows.
https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/australia-day-morning-showers-couldnt-dampen-perths-celebration-as-hundreds-gather-early-at-swan-foreshore-c-21423576
