The haunting sound of bagpipes pierced the morning air, setting spines tingling.

Collie shire president Wayne Sanford and former Citizens of the Year Phil Ugle and Ian Miffling led the procession carrying the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Noongar elder Joe Northover gave a “welcome to country”.

“Welcome to this land we love so much,” hsaid. “Collie is special to all of us, regardless of the trouble of the mines. “Things will get better. People will pull together and stand together.

“When we all come together, we stand proudly - as Collie people first and as a nation.

“We are very lucky, we have escaped the fire and floods around us and destruction Mother Nature has given. In Collie, we are very fortunate to have what we have today.”

Speaking of Collie’s close community, Mr Northover mentioned that as he was leaving the hospital recently he saw two men he thought represented Collie well — Arnold Lewis and Tom Jones.

“Both have represented Collie in different ways, one as MLA and the other making sure our high school was well maintained,” Mr Northover said.

“I want to thank these men for making an effort to make this town what it is. They are two men from different parts of life that made a difference.”

Last year’s Citizen of the Year winner Phil Ugle and Young Citizen of the Year Ben Menaglio spoke about the past year and local child health nurse, Sandra Robertson, sang the national anthem.

Cr Sanford summed up what the day was all about.

“Australia Day is symbolic,” he said.

“It is a day to celebrate the things that are important to our nation.

“We have seen many changes in the past year and it is all of those changes that bring people together.

“It is comforting that we have the strength to stand together.”