New citizens welcomed

By Lachlan Ellis

Moorabool Shire Council has welcomed over 70 new Australians at this year’s Citizenship Ceremony.

Sixty-five adults and 11 children officially received their Australian citizenship at a ceremony in Ballan, held on Saturday 7 October.

Hosted by Moorabool Shire Council Mayor Cr Rod Ward, the ceremony saw people from all over the world commit to Australian values, with the new citizens coming from a vast array of countries including, Chile, India, United Kingdom, the Philippines, Fiji, South Africa, Vietnam, the United States, France, New Zealand, Indonesia, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Ireland, Argentina, Mauritius, Thailand, Northern Ireland, Germany, Canada, Pakistan, Kenya and Malta.

Cr Ward said the event is a significant one in Council’s calendar, and is an opportunity to reflect on the privilege of Australian citizenship, and what it means to be Australian.

“Becoming an Australian citizen is a step that shows loyalty to Australia, and the desire to share a common future. It’s an honour to confer Australian citizenship to those that appreciate and value our society so much that they wish to become one of us, to make Australia their home,” Cr Ward said at the ceremony.

“Australian citizenship represents full formal membership of the community of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Australian citizenship is a common bond, involving reciprocal rights and obligations uniting all Australians, while respecting their diversity.”

Reading a message from Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles MP, Cr Ward said Australia was “one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies, with around half of all Australians born overseas, or with at least one parent born overseas”.

Each new citizen made a pledge of allegiance, before receiving a certificate from the Mayor.