Shot of people gathered at a market fair
REPORTER
They started early today — breakfast time, in fact — with a so-called big Aussie brekkie near the Yarra.
Shot of man slapping a ribbon of dough against a table
REPORTER
You could make your own noodle…
Shot of man shearing sheep in front of audience
REPORTER
..or find out where your doona came from. Across town, sheep were still a feature…
Shot of youth choir performing
YOUTH CHOIR
# Down came a jumbuck to drink at the billabong… #
REPORTER
..as this group joined hundreds of people across the state in becoming full-on Aussie citizens.
Shot of people taking ceremonial oath in hall
LORD MAYOR
I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people.
PEOPLE
I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people.
Shot of Lord Mayor speaking to reporters
LORD MAYOR
I love Australia Day. I mean, I get to do this. It's not just the frocking up, it is the fact that you are a part of creating citizens of our great nation.
REPORTER
And the new citizens seem just as excited as their Lord Mayor.
MAN
It's a good country, it's a beautiful country, they're welcoming everyone, so I thought may as well become a part of one.
WOMAN
Because I'm proud to be an Aussie and I love Australia.
REPORTER
After a military guard and flag-raising ceremony…
Shot of two Australian flags being raised
WOMAN
# Advance Australia fair… #
REPORTER
It was time for Victoria's diverse community to advance its own Australian fare.
Montage of shots of various ethnic groups performing traditional dances down main street
REPORTER
2,000 joined what's known as the People's Parade, where an eclectic collection of multicultural groups, clubs and sporting bodies marched together as one. It was a competition over costumes…
Shot of people dressed as Stormtroopers from the film Star Wars walking down the main street
REPORTER
How come you're all dressed as bad guys?
MAN DRESSED AS STORMTROOPER
We're not bad, we're good. There's nothing wrong with us.
Shot of people dancing Bollywood-style
REPORTER
..and of who had the best moves.
Shot of two politicians meeting to shake hands as they join the parade down the main street
REPORTER
It was a time for goodwill across even the political divide.
Shot of people enjoying concert in public park
REPORTER
In Treasury Gardens, Indigenous Victorians from around the State came together to remember another side of the Australia Day story.
INDIGENOUS SINGERS
# Just feel me, people, we keep up this fight… #
REPORTER
But for most of us, Australia Day was its usual, low-key self, a time to get together.
Shot of man turning pieces of meat on a barbecue in a public park
MAN
So far, it's chicken and lamb and it'll be steaks for dinner, so we'll be here for a long time.
REPORTER
You're staying for dinner?
MAN
Oh, yeah.
REPORTER
But with the cool weather set in, it wasn't really an Australia Day for the beach.
Shot of grey skies over a beach
