Fresh Aussie Citizens Dan and Louise say get involved!

The Robinson-Keep family has found itself involved in two important celebratory ceremonies at the City of Cockburn in less than six months during 2021.   At an annual event on Australia Day, Dan Robinson and Louise Keep were jointly named the City’s Community Citizens of the Year for their instrumental role developing the City’s successful Youth XLR8 Motocross program.   On 19 July, the couple and their daughter Amelia (7) became Australian Citizens along with 86 other local residents who represented 34 different countries.   Dan, Louise and Amelia were joined in the citizenship celebrations by Jack (5) and Max (11 months), born after the family arrived from the UK in October 2014 to make Australia their new home.   “It means everything to us as a family, that we will all be citizens and we can call Australia home,” Louise said.   “Living here, it feels the right thing to do so we can officially be a part of the Australian community.”

Dan and Louise said they were honoured to be recognised as the City’s Community Citizens of the Year for 2021.

They are now encouraging locals to start thinking about recognising other people who work hard in the community by lodging a nomination in the 2022 Community Citizen of the Year Awards, with applications open from 1 September.  

The family proved its value to the Cockburn community after joining the Henderson-based Coastal Motorcycle Club (CMCC) where volunteering became a passion.    After a short period Dan was welcomed into the CMCC committee and after several years was voted in as club President. In 2019, while Vice President, Dan was named Motorcycling Western Australia’s Volunteer of the Year.         Louise began helping out with club activities while pregnant with their youngest child, before completing a Race Secretary course and juggling that role with that of Club Secretary.   They have spent countless volunteer hours giving young people an opportunity to become involved in motorsport, to ride motorbikes legally and safely, and gain a sense of community support and belonging through the XLR8 program.   “We chose to leave Southport in Merseyside for Western Australia to give all our family a better life and have a more even work-life balance,” Louise said.   Dan had secured employment in Bibra Lake before arriving from the UK and it wasn’t long before Louise had employment at Cockburn Gateway Shopping City.   “We chose to live in Cockburn because it had all amenities we required as a young family. It’s great to live in such a progressive area,” Louise said.   “We decided to stay in Cockburn as the children had settled into school and we had all made some amazing friends and it really does feel like home. It’s a great place to raise a family.”   Nominations for Cockburn’s 2022 Australia Day Community Citizen of the Year Awards open on 1 September until 30 October. For more information, visit the City’s website opens in a new window.

To find out more about how to become an Australian Citizen visit the City’s website opens in a new window.

CITIZENSHIP COUNTS 

1,661 people became citizens at in-person citizenship ceremonies at the City in the 2020-21 financial year The top 10 countries of origin were the UK (203 citizens), Philippines (199), South Africa (82), India (80), New Zealand (42), Italy (35), Republic of Ireland (33), Thailand (27), Malaysia (26) and China (20). Caption: Mayor Logan Howlett with Dan Robinson, Louise Keep and children Amelia, Jack and Max at the 19 July Citizenship Ceremony.