"We've traditionally given out citizenship and sportsmanship awards to a number of people who have made significant contributions in our community and this year, as a reflection of the fact that we've become more culturally aware in Dubbo and we've gained more cultural activities, this year we're giving out, for the first time ever, the cultural person of the year award," Cr Dickerson said.

I thought I'd try and jump on the cultural concept and instead of he mayoral address this year, I thought I'd do an Australia Day mayoral poem."

Cr Dickerson said the poem was written by Mick Colliss but slightly modified by himself.

I love this land Australia in, oh, so many ways;

The pristine beaches, clear blue sky and endless sunny days.

The beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, the size of Uluru.

Relax on Fraser Island or marvel at Kakadu.

But most of all I love the people that she calls her own;

The lucky ones so fortunate to call Australia home.

I love the way we’re all embraced no matter where we’re from;

Whether we’re Kiwi, Scot, South African, Indian or Pom.

I love our laid back attitude, where no one is too uptight.

Our optimistic outlook of “no worries she’ll be right!”

I love the way we’d rather say G’day than say hello;

The way we give a mate a nickname just by adding ‘o’.

The way we love to have a crack and punch above our weight;

And stick tight to the golden rule of always help our mate.

I love our sense of humour, the dryness of our wit;

And the brave young men who went to war just to do their bit.

The way we know the Don’s Average. The way we love Merv Hughes;

The way we’ll back an outsider and not care if we lose.

I love how we do deeds expecting nothing in return;

I love how much we care about those ashes in that urn.

The way we worship Boonie when he hasn’t played for years;

The way we have our friends around for barbies and for beers.

The way when things are going bad we say “it could be worse”;

The way that no one knows our national anthem’s second verse.

I love the passion of our fans, I love that we love sport;

The way our team can make us feel ecstatic or distraught.

I love our language; love the phrase a technicolour yawn;

I love that we can all lay claim to Banjo, Hoges and Dawn.

I love how we have different ways to spread our vegemite;

I love the way that none of us gives up without a fight.

And that to me is why this place Australia is so great;

And why we have so many things that we can celebrate.

We may have natural beauty that extends from coast to coast;

But Aussies are the things about this place I love the most.