SLIP on a green and gold shirt, slop some zinc on your snoz, slap on a hat, whack on your double pluggers, pack the esky - get ready for Australia Day.

Rise early and have breakfast at Pilot Beach from 7am. Purchase sausages on damper, cocky’s joy, tea and coffee from the Laurieton Lions Club. Enjoy entertainment musically from the Camden Haven Concert Band and theatrically from the 48th Regiment of Foot with their convict re-enactment. (Please leave pets at home)

Locals and visitors will be able to reinforce their citizenship following the induction of new citizens. Australia Day Award recipients will be recognised and local politicians, and Australia Day ambassador Lindy Milan will speak.

After breakfast head to the Laurieton United Services Club (LUSC) for the Australia Day Family Fun Day on the river foreshore from 11am.

The LUSC is also running a six-a-side cricket competition from 8am on Australia Day.

Rides, jumping castle, barbecue food and entertainment will precede the Camden Haven Surf Life Saving Club’s wacky raft race. Paddlers on their home-fashioned rafts vie for cash prizes in a dash across the Camden Haven River and back, sabotaging each other with various missiles in good-natured fun.

Rafts must be at the boat ramp area by 12 noon for scrutineering and in the water at 1.30pm before the race starts at 2pm. Registration is $25 per raft. Registration will take place near the LUSC sports bar.

Rules governing the raft race have been enhanced this year: the race will start from the boat ramp, race half way across Camden Haven River around buoy and back unassisted; Eggs not permitted; Flour OK in paper bags; Saw dust not permitted; Vessel must be man made, from scratch - ie not an old pontoon or platform to stand and paddle from, get creative; Vessels must be less than 4m long; A minimum of three and a maximum of 10 participants per vessel; Vessels to be inspected 2 hours before the race.

Prizes will be awarded for first ($200), second ($100), third ($50) and fourth ($50) place and the most entertaining raft ($100). For more information on the raft race contact Ian Poole on 0427599992.

The LUSC will also draw the winner of their Tooheys Boat promotion at 5pm inside the club.

What an Australia Day!