Bruce Elder at Woy Woy

Gosford Council's Australia Day ambassador, award-winning journalist Mr Bruce Elder, will attend event celebration in Woy Woy and Wagstaffe on January 26.

Gosford City Australia Day Committee chairman Cr Jim Macfadyen says he was thrilled to welcome Mr Elder to Australia Day celebrations in the Gosford Local Government Area.

"It's an honour to have Bruce join us on Australia Day," Cr Macfadyen said.

"An ambassador's role on the day is important as they'll add to the high calibre of community spirit and pride we have here in Gosford City.

"With Bruce's extensive knowledge and understanding of our country and its people over the years, I'm sure the local community will enjoy having him as our national ambassador for 2010."

Currently a writer with the Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Elder is also a weekly guest on the ABC's Tony Delroy Nightlife program, broadcast to more than 150 stations around Australia.

As a writer, his publications have included a study in 1998 of the massacres and maltreatment of Australian Aborigines titled Blood on the Wattle.

The book has been in print for the past 21 years and was selected as one of the 10 most influential works of non-fiction published in Australia in the 20th century.

In the same year, Mr Elder started working on a comprehensive travel guide to Australia, known as Walkabout.

His research involved travelling more than 200,000 km and is now two million words long. Mr Elder's most recent book 1015 Things to See and Do in Australia is a product of this research.

Local Masterchef winner Ms Julie Goodwin will also represent Gosford City on the day as the local Australia Day representative.

Press release, 18 Jan 2010 Cr Jim Macfadyen, Gosford Council