With a background in media and communications, Ms Cuthill has spent the last five years in Tasmania managing the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal through the University of Tasmania.

“I think that the quintessential Australian spirit is one that that recognises there is so much to be gained from giving back to your community.

“And I am looking forward to helping celebrate the amazing contribution volunteers have made to our thriving community. It will also be a real pleasure to meet some of our new Australian citizens,” Ms Cuthill said.

Ms Cuthill was born and raised in Launceston, eventually going on to work in the United Kingdom and Europe –employed with the United Nations in The Hague.

“Australia Day means many different things to many different people, and as the National Australia Day Council slogan suggests, we want our community to celebrate in the way that means the most to them,” Mayor Christina Holmdahl said.

“For a lot of our community members this does mean family fun days and heading to our wonderful local beaches.”

“By holding our ceremony on the evening prior, I encourage our community to help us in celebrating our local heroes and welcoming our new citizens – a very special experience not often open to the public.”

Cr Holmdahl said she was looking forward to hearing about how Ms Cuthill’s experiences internationally have shaped her view of what it means to be Australian.

The Australia Day Ambassador program sends high achieving Australians to over 300 community celebrations nationwide every year.

West Tamar Council sponsors community-run Australia Day events through the Australia Day Grants program at Greens Beach, Gravelly Beach and Trevallyn.

The ceremony will be held at the Tamar Function Centre on Wednesday, January 25 from 6.15pm. RSVP to community development officer Kaitlin Roach by January 18.

Details are available on the West Tamar Council website: www.wtc.tas.gov.au