By Lachlan Ellis<\/p>\n
Moorabool Shire Council has welcomed over 70 new Australians at this year\u2019s Citizenship Ceremony.<\/p>\n
Sixty-five adults and 11 children officially received their Australian citizenship at a ceremony in Ballan, held on Saturday 7 October.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Cr Ward said the event is a significant one in Council\u2019s calendar, and is an opportunity to reflect on the privilege of Australian citizenship, and what it means to be Australian.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecoming an Australian citizen is a step that shows loyalty to Australia, and the desire to share a common future. It\u2019s 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,\u201d Cr Ward said at the ceremony.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralian 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reading a message from Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles MP, Cr Ward said Australia was \u201cone of the world\u2019s most successful multicultural societies, with around half of all Australians born overseas, or with at least one parent born overseas\u201d.<\/p>\n
Each new citizen made a pledge of allegiance, before receiving a certificate from the Mayor. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lachlan Ellis Moorabool Shire Council has welcomed over 70 new Australians at this year\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n