Baw Baw Welcomes 20 New Australian Citizens

Published on 29 January 2019

Baw Baw Shire joined towns and regions across the nation in welcoming our newest Australian citizens as part of Australia Day 2019 celebrations.

Australia Day 2019 saw a record number of people become Australian citizens, with 16,212 individuals, made up of 146 nationalities, attending one of the 365 ceremonies across the country.

Here in Baw Baw, 20 people from 12 countries including New Zealand, Germany, Morocco, Bangladesh, Britain, Zambia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, China, The Netherlands, and England chose to officially become Australian citizens.

A formal flag-raising and citizenship ceremony was hosted by Mayor Cr Mikaela Power on Australia Day, Saturday 26 January, in Civic Park in Warragul. The ceremony commenced with the Warragul Municipal Band marching into the park ahead of the Scouts and Girl Guides raising the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

Over 100 community members were in attendance to welcome our newest citizens, alongside Deputy Mayor Cr Danny Goss, Cr Darren Wallace, Cr Tricia Jones, Cr Keith Cook and CEO Alison Leighton.

This year’s celebrations also mark the 70th anniversary of the introduction of Australian citizenship into law.

Australian citizenship ceremonies are an important part of our 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.

“Australia Day is a significant day to reflect on the privilege of Australian citizenship and what it means to be Australian. It’s a time for us to welcome new people to our community and acknowledge the importance of what it means to become a member of the Australian community.”

“Citizenship is the common bond uniting all Australians, whether you are an Australian by birth or by choice. We warmly welcome our newest Australian citizens to Baw Baw and congratulate them on their commitment to our country.”

Image: The Warragul Municipal Band performing ahead of the official ceremony.

Image: Mayor Cr Mikaela Power addressing the crowd.

Image: Scouts and Girl Guides raising the Australian, Aboriginal, and Torres Strait Islander flags. 

Image: Community members gathered in Civic Park Warragul to watch the ceremony.

Image: Conferees receiving their citizenship certificates handed out by Deputy Mayor Cr Danny Goss and Cr Tricia Jones.

Image: Mayor Cr Mikaela Power with some of Baw Baw's newest Australian citizens.

Image: Mayor Cr Mikaela Power with some of Baw Baw's newest Australian citizens.

Image: Mayor Cr Mikaela Power with one of Baw Baw's newest Australian citizens.