\nBernardine Gloury, Grant Hopkinson, Mamta Murkute, Dorothy Umarekar, Ian, Roseann, Lauren and Chloe O\u2019Brien and Paul Zammit all took the Australian Citizenship Pledge-sworn under oath before family, friends and community members.
\nCr Tatchell presented Certificates of Appreciation to those nominated in all categories:
\nThe Young Citizen of the Year Appreciation – Madi Addison, Thomas Bamford, Jasmin Crampin, Ryan Enever, Abbey Kick, Bryce Pace and Emilly Wallis.
\nCommunity Event of the Year Category Appreciation – Anne Eskdale (Love is in the Air fundraiser) and Kevin Harper (Ballan Autumn Festival)
\nCitizen of the Year Appreciation – Gloria Whitfield
\nMayoral Award \u2013 Naomi Carr
\nYoung Citizen of the Year was awarded to Samantha Bradfield.
\nCommunity Event of the Year was awarded to Bacchus Marsh RSL Avenue of Honour Centenary Celebration, accepted by Bruce and Cherrison Lawton.
\nCitizen of the Year \u2013 Kevin Harper
\nAnd if it wasn\u2019t more Australian to hear the \u2018aussie, aussie, aussie\u2019 chant, the Performing Arts Headquarters (Grant street Bacchus Marsh) performed toe tapping songs from iconic Australian bands Cold Chisel, Silver Chair and the Hoodoo Gurus.
\nCouncillors Keogh, Bingham and Edwards were in attendance alongside Catherine King (Federal Member for Ballarat), Stephen McGhie (Member for Melton) and Michaela Settle (Member for Buninyong). Councillors Dudzik, Toohey and Sullivan were apologies.
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/themooraboolnews.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/website-3-300x199.jpg\")
Photo – Helen Tatchell<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Helen Tatchell \u201cI\u2019m an Australia Day Ambassador because this is my country, not by birth, but where I live,\u201d George Ermer told the crowd at Moorabool\u2019s civic ceremony at the Bacchus Marsh hall. Mr Ermer arrived from Hungary in 1950 at just age 13; in 1954 he became an Australian Citizen. Becoming nationalised Mr […]<\/p>\n