Coonamble’s Australia Day celebrations will carry a powerful message of community, kindness and practical action this year, with Australia Day ambassador Katryna Robinson encouraging locals to remember that minor acts can make a big difference.

Ms Robinson is the founder and chief executive of Every Little Bit Helps, a grassroots charity providing essential care packs to people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, disaster recovery and disadvantage.

She said her work - and her approach to Australia Day - was grounded in a simple belief.

“I think the message is that anyone can make a difference,” Ms Robinson said.

“You don’t have to do everything. Something is better than nothing. Do what you can.”

Ms Robinson said the idea for Every Little Bit Helps began more than a decade ago with something many people take for granted - hotel toiletries.

“My husband was travelling a lot for work and kept bringing home hotel toiletries,” she said.

“I was getting off the bus, walking past people sleeping rough, and it didn’t sit comfortably with me.”

“One day, I took that basket of toiletries and went under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and offered them to people sleeping there.”

When she asked whether they had regular access to toiletries, the answer surprised her.

“They said, ‘sometimes’,” she said.

“That word really stuck with me.”

Ms Robinson soon learned that shelters were heavily reliant on donations, and supplies were often inconsistent.

“That’s when I realised there was a gap, and I just tried to plug that hole,” she said.

An experienced Australia Day Ambassador, Katryna Robinson has visited several Western Plains locations, sharing her inspirational story of creating a charity.

Since 2012, Every Little Bit Helps has distributed more than 100,000 care packs, containing over two million essential items, supported by volunteers, schools, universities and major corporate partners across Australia.

A message that fits regional Australia

Ms Robinson said Australia Day ambassador roles gave her the opportunity to share the charity’s message with communities large and small, including regional towns like Coonamble.

“I come from a country background, so I understand what community means and what it looks like,” she said.

“But I think it’s universal. No matter where you live in Australia, people want to help when they can.”

She said the spirit of generosity was something uniquely Australian.

“The values Australians hold about helping others, it’s a unique secret sauce that we have in this country,” she said.

"Kindness is free."

She said the most rewarding part of her work was knowing she could help someone when they needed it most.

“It warms my heart to be able to say, ‘Yes, I can help’,” she said.

Australia Day events in Coonamble will celebrate local achievements, citizenship and community spirit - values Ms Robinson said were at the heart of both her charity work and her role as ambassador.

Coonamble's Australia Day event will kick off with a free breakfast at 8am at Coonamble Showground Pavilion.

The community is invited to meet Ms Robinson and congratulate the winners of the Australia Day Awards and Coonamble & District Education Foundation Scholarships for 2026.

Family-friendly Respect, Reflect, Celebrate pool parties organised for the long weekend will continue.

The pool parties include free entry and kicked off in Quambone yesterday, Friday 23 January.

• • Coonamble — Monday 26 January, 10am to 1.30pm

• • Gulargambone — Monday 26 January, 2pm to 6pm

Games and a barbecue are incdluded, providing an opportunity for families and community members to come together in a relaxed setting after the formal Australia Day proceedings.