Event MC Phil Walleystack with Town of Bassendean Mayor John Gangell and Perth Glory captain Rostyn Griffiths preparing for Australia Day celebrations and fireworks at Ashfield Reserve.
Camera IconEvent MC Phil Walleystack with Town of Bassendean Mayor John Gangell and Perth Glory captain Rostyn Griffiths preparing for Australia Day celebrations and fireworks at Ashfield Reserve. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis        www.communitypix.com.au d464017

Perth Glory stars to celebrate Australia Day with fans at Bassendean fireworks event at Ashfield Reserve

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

Captain Rostyn Griffiths, Josh Risdon, Dino Djulbic, Andy Keogh and Richard Garcia have been chosen as the Australia Day WA ambassadors for the event.

Griffiths, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent in England, started his youth career at ECU Joondalup before joining several clubs, including the Blackburn Rovers and Roda JC.

The 28-year-old midfielder said people never get “old and tired” of fireworks.

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“Normally the family would go on the boat on the river and watch the fireworks,” he said.

“It will be a little bit different celebrating down here (in Ashfield) but I was honoured to be honest when the opportunity came to be an ambassador for the Australia Day event. Just any opportunity to get out in the public and meet people is always exciting.”

The event will feature performances from Phil Walleystack, Randa and the Soul Kingdom and The Bassonovas.

Walleystack said it was always a pleasure to perform at Australia Day events.

“As an Aboriginal person, it is a bit of mixed emotions being the date (of Invasion Day),” he said.

“When you try to push past your emotional side of things and actually look at the bigger picture, it is when we can come together.

“I am very happy to be an Aboriginal man to be the MC of this event and also perform to share this country’s oldest living history and culture.”

Bassendean Mayor John Gangell said he anticipated about 15,000 people would attend the event.

“We have got rides and amusements for the families and children, we have also got a fantastic entertainment on stage with of course the main show being the fireworks,” he said.

“We have had a wide variety of people over the years from various elements within the community and obviously having the Perth Glory players this year as ambassadors is wonderful and terrific.”

The event will be held from 5 to 9pm.