While hopes for rain did not eventuate, revelers were out and about enjoying the myriad events as temperatures crept past 35 degrees.

The BBQ's were fired up early at the Katherine Club to raise funds for the bushfire appeal, and resident of Katherine currently battling cancer, Jen Harris.

More than a dozen finalists were honoured at the Katherine Town Council's Australia Day Awards ceremony held in the cool of the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts and Culture Centre.

Colleen McTaggert, the organiser of Katherine's Debutante Ball, a leader and an integral part of the community was named the 2020 Citizen of the Year.

Sharon Jennings was named Young Citizen of the Year, and last year's rally of students fighting for greater action on climate change was awarded the Community Event of the Year.

Fifteen Katherine residents joined 27,400 people from more than 160 countries in becoming Australian citizens, and as is tradition in Katherine for almost every large scale event, the loud rumble of a low-flying jet reverberated across town at 11.30am.

At the Katherine Golf Club, it doesn't get more Australian than a thong toss and the annual eating contest of something typically Australian. Last year it was all about quantity with competitors required to eat a mountain of pies, chicken and hotdogs.

This year, organisers took a different tact and challenged rivals with a jar of Vegemite.

While no one managed to finish the jar, Justin Beebe struggled through the most.

While thousands of people across Australia marked January 26 with celebrations, thousands of others joined rallies and protests calling to change the date.

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