Australian legend named Australia Day Ambassador

Rod McCormack and Gina Jefferys. Image; Central Coast CouncilRod McCormack and Gina Jefferys. Image; Central Coast Council

One of Australia’s leading musicians and songwriters, Rod McCormack, has been officially appointed as the Central Coast’s Australia Day Ambassador for 2018.

Rod is one of the most in-demand record producers in the country and has been responsible for many high selling and award-winning albums, as well as being named CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) Producer of the Year in 2004, 2008 and 2010.

Rod is proud to call the Central Coast home and his recording studio at Erina, The Music Cellar, has played host to some of Australia’s best artists such as Paul Kelly, Stan Walker, Jimmy Barnes, Shannon Noll, Kasey Chambers, The Wiggles, Casey Donovan, Gina Jeffreys, Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Anthony Callea and many more.

Rod and his wife, Gina Jeffreys, are ambassadors of Central Coast Council’s This is the Life campaign – helping promote all the things they love about the Coast and showing off the remarkable people that live here.

“When you’re in such a beautiful environment all the time, with such a great lifestyle, I think your creativity just flows out of you much more naturally – and that works for me,” Rod said.

“I have always lived on the Central Coast and love it so much that I convinced Gina this is the best place to raise our son.

“So when the opportunity arose for me to be the Central Coast’s Ambassador for Australia Day, it was one opportunity I could not resist.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out and about on Australia Day and celebrating everything that’s great about this country, but especially living here on the Coast.

“I think one of the great things that the Central Coast affords is being able to maintain a great lifestyle that doesn’t overstretch everybody.”

Find out more on Rod’s story by visiting thisisthecentralcoast.com.au

Rod will be joined by Council’s Mayor, Jane Smith, to officiate at community events at The Entrance and Woy Woy as well as help present the Australia Day Awards on Thursday 25 January.

Mayor Jane Smith said it’s fantastic to have a local representative like Rod McCormack involved in the Central Coast’s Australia Day celebrations.

“Rod has gained the reputation as one of Australia’s finest music producers and songwriters and proudly shares his passion for music here on the Coast,” Mayor Smith said.

“He continues to produce and write music but is now also giving back to the industry by running performance workshops to help mentor new and young performers.

“Rod embodies what it means to be a Coastie and he will share his pride and passion for the area as he takes part in all our Australia Day events.”

Central Coast Australia Day events for 2018 include:

Thursday 25 January – Australia Day Eve celebrations at Canton Beach.

Friday 26 January – Australia Day celebrations at Woy Woy and The Entrance and the annual Citizenship Ceremony.

Find out more about community events for Australia Day by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/events

SourceMelanie Sutton, Central Coast Council, Jan 15, 2018