This long weekend will see many people emerge from COVID-19 hibernation and finally take off their dressing gowns to celebrate Western Australia.
Due to coronavirus the events usually held on WA Day have been cancelled or altered in line with restrictions.
Events cancelled include WA Day Festival at Burswood, WA Day regional events and WA Day Festival at the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour.
The State of the Art (SOTA) music festival and the Western Australian of the Year Awards have been modified to suit the COVID restrictions.
Celebrate WA Chair Michael Anghie says it was a difficult decision to cancel the 2020 WA Day celebrations, but the health and safety of the community was the main priority.
“We will be doing our best to continue promoting everything that is great about Western Australia and maintaining our optimism about the future for the state,” he says.
WA Day is this coming Monday and celebrates everyone and everything that calls WA home.
It is a time to recognise the Aboriginal history of the state and fittingly falls within Reconciliation week.
The glorious Perth city skyline. Photo: Bella Kitchen. 
WA farm land is home for many people. Photo: Bella Kitchen. 
Rottnest is normally a dream getaway but over COVID it was a quarantine hub. Photo: Bella Kitchen. 
WA is famous for its stunning sunsets all year. Photo: Bella Kitchen. 
Cottesloe hosts Sculptures by the Sea each year. Photo: Bella Kitchen. 
Hyden is famous for Wave Rock, a great spot for a sunset picnic. Photo: Bella Kitchen. 
Another perfect WA sunset. Photo: Bella Kitchen.
Below is how you can still celebrate WA Day in line with restrictions still in place.
SOTAstream
The usual SOTA festival has been altered into a free online music festival, SOTAstream.
The event this Monday will be streamed through Facebook Live direct from the Freo.Social, giving artists the opportunity to get back performing.
Singer-songwriter Carla Geneve is the opening act for SOTAstream.
Miss Geneve says it’s exciting the festival is still going ahead virtually and it provides something for everyone to get involved.
“People need a sense of normality, as well as keeping the arts supported,” she says.
She explains the importance of the government funding to SOTAstream as everyone involved may be paid for what will be, for many, the first time in months.
Featuring a line-up full of WA acts, people will be able to stream the event from wherever in the state they are.
People may not have to abandon their dressing gowns after all.
#WADayHero
The Western Australian of the Year Awards were meant to take place this Friday.
Now, the organisers have introduced the hashtag, #WADayHero, to recognise all West Australians making significant contributions for the community during the pandemic.
The team behind WA Day are encouraging people to award a certificate to someone they think deserves to be recognised.
Mr Anghie says the nominations for the 2020 Awards will be carried forward to 2021 to ensure they receive the recognition they deserve.
“During these challenging times we would like all Western Australians to remain proud of the many achievements of our state and admire the resilience of all the people who live here,” he says.
A real-life Forrest Gump
Scott Guerini, 14, has been walking to raise money for sick children and babies since he was four years old.
On WA Day he will walk his seventh marathon.
Scott says there is no better day to walk than WA Day.
Scott’s walks have raised over $175,000 for Telethon and he doesn’t plan on stopping.
Scott explains it all started from a lesson he learnt in kindergarten about helping others.
“It’s a nice feeling you get from helping others and I feel like I am doing my part,” Scott says.
Essential praise
Many workers provided essential care and services to the WA community. The staff at Donnybrook Medical Services are some of those people.
The hashtag #WADayHero and certificate is a small token of appreciation from the WA community.
To download a certificate click here.
