New Aussies celebrate Citizenship Day
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East Gippsland welcomed 16 new citizens at a ceremony held in Bairnsdale on Tuesday, September 17, as part of Australian Citizenship Day 2019.
The conferees were from 10 countries, including the Philippines, United Kingdom, Ukraine, France, Egypt, Cambodia, India, New Zealand, China and Vietnam
East Gippsland Shire Council Mayor Cr Natalie O’Connell said the ceremony provided an opportunity for all Australians, whether they are citizens by birth or by choice, to come together to acknowledge what’s great about being Australian.
“There is no greater privilege than our citizenship. It’s a life-long commitment to Australia’s values of freedom, democracy, equality and respect,” Cr O’Connell said.
“This year on Australian Citizenship Day, we welcomed the largest number of new citizens nationally since the inaugural Australian Citizenship Day in 2001.”
The Department of Home Affairs and councils hosted 150 ceremonies across the country with more than 8000 people becoming Australian citizens as part of this special occasion.
A citizenship ceremony is the final step to satisfying the requirements for citizenship.
Australian Citizenship Day provides an occasion for individuals, schools, community groups and organisations to reflect on the values of Australian citizenship and the contributions of citizens to local communities.
Council live streamed the occasion so family and friends who couldn’t be at the ceremony could share in the special day. Council generally holds four citizenship ceremonies each year.
Video of the event is available on council’s YouTube channel.
East Gippsland’s new Australian citizens are:
Drina Alburo, Philippines Danilo Alburo, Philippines Christofer Beal, United Kingdom Oleksandr Dashchenko, Ukraine Nataliya Krachkovska, Ukraine Beverley Forshaw, England Yann Gardin, France Marina Gorgy, Egypt Tetyana Hyde, Ukraine Chanda Ingham, Cambodia Sherin Jose, India Janice Kelly, New Zealand Caroline Lomas, United Kingdom Cyrile Manongsong, Philippines Toan Khanh Nguyen, Vietnam Dang Kim Thai, Vietnam Jiaoyue Zhang, China
Yann Gardin, centre, celebrated his citizenship with, from left, Arlene and Simon and Harry Cook and Arnoux Gardin.
Oleksandr Dashchenko and Nataliya Krachkovska from Ukraine with Mayor Natalie O'Connell and Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Edward O'Donohue MLC