Seventeen new Australian citizens on Australia Day

Seventeen new citizens representing nine different nationalities chose to officially become Australian citizens at a citizenship ceremony hosted by East Gippsland Shire Council on Australia Day.

Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell presided over the ceremony in the Council Chamber at the Corporate Centre, Bairnsdale, where family, friends and dignitaries helped the new citizens mark the occasion.

Cr O’Connell said it was a significant day to reflect on the privilege of Australian citizenship and what it means to be Australian.

“Australia Day is a time for us to give a warm welcome to our newest citizens and acknowledge the importance of what it means to become a member of the Australian community,” Cr O’Connell said.

“This year marks 70 years since Australian citizenship was introduced into law, creating for the first time a legal status of being uniquely Australian.”

Cr O’Connell said citizenship is the common bond uniting all Australians, whether you are an Australian by birth or by choice. Citizenship means contributing to our future success as a nation and the East Gippsland community, and our shared values.

“I congratulate our East Gippsland residents on becoming Australian citizens and making their commitment to Australia.”

Australian citizenship ceremonies are an important part of the nation’s celebrations with more people becoming citizens on Australia Day than any other day of the year. In the past five years (2015-19), more than 74,000 people have become citizens on Australia Day. This year, a record number of people (16,212 individuals made up of 146 nationalities) became Australian citizens at 365 ceremonies held across the country.

East Gippsland’s new Aussies were presented with a framed certificate, Australia citizenship coin, 70 Years of Citizenship medallion and information about East Gippsland in front of a crowd of about 80 people.

It was also a special day for members of the ‘26ers Club’ – people born on Australia Day. Celebrating her birthday and cutting the 26ers Club cake after the citizenship ceremony was local resident, Margaret Jones.

The citizenship ceremony was livestreamed and can be viewed on Council’s YouTube channel ‘EastGippyTV’.

 Seventeen (not all pictured) new citizens representing nine different nationalities chose to officially become Australian citizens at a citizenship ceremony hosted by Council on Australia Day. This year, a record number of people (16,212 individuals made up of 146 nationalities) became Australian citizens at 365 ceremonies held across the country. The new Aussies are pictured with Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell and Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull.

PICTURED TOP: It’s a special day for members of council’s ‘26ers Club’ on Australia Day. Cutting the 26ers Club cake in the Corporate Centre this morning was local resident, Margaret Jones, alongside Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell.