There’s a lot to mull over at Cobar Shire Council prior to Australia Day, with a huge 38 nominations across the seven local award categories.

It’s a great problem to have according to a council source.

“Congratulations to everyone that has been nominated and/ or involved in an event that was nominated,” Cobar Shire Council announced on social media.

“Thank you to those who took the time to put together amazing nominations, making the judges' jobs very tricky!”

Cobar Shire’s Australia Day ceremony will take place at the Cobar Memorial Swimming Pool - where the winners of each category will be announced.

Sharing his story as Australia Day Ambassador for Cobar Shire is Paul Featherstone, a Senior Instructor For NSW Ambulance Special Casualty Access Team (SCAT).

Joining the NSW Ambulance Service in 1972, Paul pioneered the Ambulance Service’s acclaimed Paramedic system in 1976.

He conceived and developed the SCAT in 1986 and has since been a team leader in developing patient access methods and high levels of care under hostile environments.

Mr Featherstone has twice been the recipient of the Ambulance Service’s highest award for bravery, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Australian Bravery Medal, the Humane Society’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals, Prince Phillip Helicopter Rescue Award, and the Ambulance Service Medal as part of the 2007 Queen’s Birthday honour list.

Paul Featherstone is the Australia Day Ambassador for Cobar Shire Council.

Once the formalities are over, the Great Duck Race is also on again at the Cobar Pool, with $500 up for grabs!

The yellow rubber duckies are numbered 1 – 200 and they have to “swim” the length of the 50-metre pool.

The first duck to reach the shallow end and touch the wall is the winner.

In the last week, kids from the Cobar Youth and Community Centre have been out and about, enthusiastically selling the ducks, including setting up in front of the local chemist, selling the ducks for $10 each.

Brytt Moore, Youth Development and Community Services Coordinator at the Cobar Youth and Community Centre said the kids had done an amazing job.

“Last year, I was selling the ducks for three weeks and still had 18 ducks left on Australia Day,” she said. “The kids have done an awesome job and sold out in three days.

“On Australia Day, we drop them all in one end of the pool and the first duck up the other end is the winner.”

Obviously, these ducks need some help to get up to the other end, or it could be a lengthy activity!

“Originally, we had some kids jump in the water and splash and kick to move the ducks along, but last year, we had a person swim in one of the other lanes to create the water movement.

The kids are always pretty keen to help with the jumping and splashing,” Ms Moore said.

“The Duck Races have been part of Australia Day in Cobar for several years and the money we raise goes toward school holiday programs at the youth centre.

"We’ve had a massive increase in foot traffic to the centre and we try and run all different programs including a nutritional program where we do a fair bit of cooking with minimal ingredients, though we do grow a lot in our garden.

“The community support we have got through selling the ducks has been fantastic and we often get asked if we can use real ducks, but 200 live ducks in the swimming pool would not end well!”