Pieta Harris, of Katunga, Victoria, proudly flies the nation's flag with some help from her 13-month-old daughter Matilda at the Evandale celebrations yesterday.
PREMIER Lara Giddings yesterday thanked Tasmania's volunteers and service people for the courage and generosity they show every day.
Twenty-seven people were handed Australia Day honours at ceremonies across the state, including three Members of the Order of Australia, 13 Order of Australia medals, two Public Service medals, two Police medals, three Fire Service medals, one Ambulance Services medal and three emergency services medals.
``My father Richard has been awarded an OAM for his contribution to the Brighton community, so I know just how proud the families of these recipients will be feeling today,'' Ms Giddings said.
``The fact that recipients of these awards are nominated by their peers in the community gives the honour special meaning.
``What defines us is our people - from those who have received official honours, to the new citizens being sworn in today and the many others simply attending community events around the state.''
Ms Giddings said the work and support volunteers donated during this month's bushfires had been priceless and asked people to stop and reflect on the contributions they had made.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Cassy O'Connor took part in the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre's Invasion Day march in Hobart yesterday and expressed her support for the national celebration date to be changed.
``There can be no chance of true reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians until we change the date of our national day,'' Ms O'Connor said.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said he was proud to be Australian, and more importantly Tasmanian, in his Australia Day address.
Mr Hodgman said mateship and the willingness to lend a hand were ``the sort of attributes Tasmanians have in spades''.