Golden Plains Shire welcomes new citizens

IN one of the biggest events of its kind in Golden Plains Shire, twenty-one people have become Australian citizens.

They came from across the globe and spanned the age groups, but all had one thing in common, a desire to accept citizenship of the nation.

Alejehndro Borda lives in Bannockburn with his wife and child, for him the decision to take the pledge was about opportunity.

“We did this for our kid,” he said. “So they have a better future. At the end of the day we’re going to keep struggling but this is part of the dream I have that my daughter grows up in a country where she has things she needs as she grows up.

“We were already settled here, so it was also to be more part of the community.”

A mechanical engineer, Mr Borda moved from Bolivia to China for study, and he ended up living there for 12 years before settling in Australia in 2013.

“When I was in China some friends of my wife asked why don’t you come to Australia,” he said. “So I emigrated under the skilled migration program.”

Golden Plains Shire Mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey conducted the citizenship ceremony and he acknowledged the lengthy process that the 21 people went through to officially become Australians.

“I was just having a conversation with a couple who live in Lethbridge and have been there for eight years, and they said it’s taken eight years to get to the end of this process,” Cr Sharkey said.

“We sometimes stand back here and think this is procedural, but there’s huge amount of effort for a lot of families to achieve this. It’s a huge moment for them.”

As part of the ceremony the new citizens were presented with a certificate and a native plant.