Australia Day celebrations across Sydney saw thousands gather at venues from Freshwater Beach to the Max Parker Leisure and Aquatic Centre in Revesby, with families enjoying barbecues, pool parties and slip-and-slide activities in 27-degree weather. Citizenship ceremonies welcomed new Australians to the country, while Canterbury-Bankstown Council prepared to honour Bondi Beach hero Ahmed El Ahmed with a key to the city at their citizenship awards for his actions in tackling a gunman last month.