From a casual gathering at home, an evening on the punt at Albury’s harness racing meeting, through to Hume Highway truckies driving around the clock — the dawning of 2007 was welcomed in a variety of celebrations.

Pubs and clubs across the Border were packed with revellers.

Police from the region’s major stations reported good behaviour in the hours leading up to midnight with Insp Lynelle Rodwell from Albury police confirming there were no major problems.

At the Roi Bar in Albury’s Dean St party heartland, the action had started about 3pm yesterday afternoon and was building throughout the night.

At midnight DJ James Dela Cruz was in charge of the music after being supported by colleagues Benni C and Silent Jay.

Among the staff was Julia Meaney who had her first night of working on New Year’s Eve.

“I am actually excited, because I won’t wake up with a hangover,” she said.

Across town at the New Albury Hotel, the Whitehouse family from Sydney gave up their usual habit of watching the fireworks across the harbour to share the evening with Border friends.

Jen Whitehouse said her husband Shaun was in the Army and they had travelled south to enjoy the company of mates from the service.

At Lavington’s Northside Hotel the entertainment was being provided by Border DJ Jono and in the crowd were friends Jamie Boothey, Robert Hall and Kent Bowerman.

Mr Boothey said: “We come here once a year and have a quiet drink to celebrate the whole year.”

At the German Austrian Australian Club in Wodonga a New Year’s Eve tradition continued with an annual dance, now in its 46th year.

About 100 members and guests came out to mark the night with some German music and a supper meal of frankfurts and potato salad, washed down with some Teutonic beer.

Away from the hordes, Paul Micallef and Kate Noonan farewelled 2006 with a casual dinner at Hovell Tree Park in Albury.

The Ballarat couple cracked open a bottle of champagne before cooking up a feast on one of the park’s barbecues.

For Wodonga resident Michael Fawkner there was some disappointment with his homemade New Year’s Eve banner blown down.

“I’ve been so frustrated all day today trying to get it up and then at 4.30, the wind came through again,” he said.

But his electrical bubbles machine, hung up between two branches, kept pumping out spheres as Mr Fawkner and daughter Tayla, 5, welcomed 2007.