Australia Day Ambassador announced for 2026

Meet Robina Beard OAM: Blayney Shire Council’s 2026 Australia Day Ambassador

Robina Beard OAM is a true icon of Australian entertainment, whose remarkable career spans more than six decades across stage, television and dance.

Best known to generations of Australians as Madge the Manicurist in the long-running Palmolive commercials, Robina’s warmth and wit made her a household name. Yet her contribution to the arts goes far beyond this famous role.

Born in Twickenham, England, Robina migrated to Australia in 1949 and began dance training at an early age. Her professional career launched in 1955 with J.C. Williamson’s musical Can-Can, followed by acclaimed performances in theatre productions. She broke new ground on television as on of Australia’s first female weather presenter and starred in the country’s first sitcom, Barley Charlie.

Over the years, Robina appeared in beloved series including Number 96, Home and Away, All Saints and The Moodys, while continuing to choreograph and direct major productions, from The Wizard of Oz at the Festival of Sydney to Sesame Street Live tours across Australia and Asia.

Robina’s passion for dance and theatre has shaped her lifelong advocacy for the arts. She served as National President of Cecchetti Ballet Australia and President of Ausdance NSW, championing excellence in performance and teaching. Her commitment was recognised in 2011 when she received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the arts, particularly through dance, and the Australian Dance Award for Lifetime Achievement. She has also worked closely with Indigenous communities through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance Academy and continues to perform, most recently in the acclaimed one-woman play Tales of Kabbarli.

A former NSW Seniors Festival Ambassador, Robina remains dedicated to community wellbeing, running tap-dancing and exercise classes for seniors and inspiring Australians to stay active and connected. Her memoir, My Life: You’re Soaking In It, celebrates her extraordinary journey and enduring love for the performing arts. She has just finished making a horror film in Melbourne wich she treated as a big adventure.

For Robina, being an Australia Day Ambassador is about honouring creativity, resilience and community spirit. She looks forward to sharing stories that reflect the diversity and vibrancy of our nation and encouraging Australians to celebrate what unites us.

Australia Day Award Ceremony & BBQ

Council invites the community to join us on Australia Day, Monday 26 January 2026 for a free BBQ Breakfast and Awards Ceremony, commencing at 8.00am at Heritage Park, Blayney. Please note the wet weather venue in the Blayney Shire Community Centre.

Come along for a traditional Aussie breakfast cooked by Blayney Rotary; meet our 2025 Australia Day Ambassador and see the announcement of the Blayney Shire Australia Day Awards.

These Awards recognise outstanding achievement and excellence in the local community and highlights the importance of service to the Australia nation. Being nominated for an Australia Day Award is a great honour and is therefore a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to someone who makes you proud to be an Australian.