Ben Dark lights up Australia Day

Sunshine Coast Council Australia Day activities will feature one of Australian television’s best lifestyle presenters, Ben Dark.

Ben’s enormous talent is well known from his role as travel presenter on the Getaway program. Ben will be Master of Ceremonies for the Sunshine Coast Australia Day Awards on Wednesday 25 January and for the Citizenship Ceremony on Thursday 26 January.

Ben’s career has taken him all over the world and now he calls the Sunshine Coast home. Ben said that he is humbled to be among so many people that give so much of themselves to the community.

"How lucky are some people - you win lotto once when you get to your new home Australia, but to win it a second time and live on the Sunshine Coast, that beats the odds!" Ben said.

"Multiculturalism brings new ways, ethics, food and ideas to the Coast. The more ingredients you can choose from for your melting pot, the better the stew."

Ben will bring his appreciation of the Sunshine Coast to the role of MC at the Australia Day events and his genuine warmth and charisma will capture and inspire the audience.

The fourth annual Sunshine Coast Australia Day Awards recognise and honour the achievements of locals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Sunshine Coast. The awards will be presented in the categories of Business, Community, Creative, Environment, Sport and Recreation, Senior Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year on Wednesday 25 January at Maroochy Baptist Centre in North Buderim from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

The Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony starts at 9am in Lions Park on Gympie Terrace at Noosaville on Thursday 26 January when more than 200 locals will celebrate Australia Day by officially becoming Australian citizens.