Victoria's newest citizens celebrate Australia Day
Thursday, 26 January 2012
The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP, today welcomed some 3150 new citizens from 102 countries in 68 citizenship ceremonies as Victoria celebrates Australia Day.
Highlights include two Melbourne ceremonies with a sporting theme hosted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
At AAMI Park, in a ceremony co-hosted by the Melbourne Victory Football Club, about 88 new citizens will come on field ahead of the Melbourne Victory-Sydney FC football game to lead 30 000 spectators in the Australian citizenship affirmation.
Meanwhile, at Essendon’s Windy Hill, 35 people will make the pledge in a ceremony co-hosted by Essendon Football Club and Cricket Victoria.
‘Australia Day is a special time for all Australians, whether they are citizens by birth or by choice, to come together to celebrate our common bond,’ Mr Bowen said.
‘Today is a particularly special occasion for our newest citizens who are pledging their commitment to our great nation and I congratulate them on behalf of all Australians.
‘It is also a great opportunity for all of us to reflect on what it means to be an Australian citizen and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.’
Twenty-five local councils around Melbourne will conduct citizenship ceremonies for about 2000 conferees. The largest will be held in Brimbank with 146 new citizens, Monash with 132 new citizens, Boroondara with 130 new citizens, and Banyule, Whittlesea and Glen Eira with 120 new citizens each.
Among those officially joining the Australian family is 2012’s oldest Australia Day conferee, 88-year-old James Boyd, who will join around 30 conferees at a City of Greater Geelong ceremony.
Scottish-born Mr Boyd said he first considered becoming an Australian in 1980 but failed to follow through.
‘I’m doing so now because I have lived in Australia much longer than in Port Glasgow,’ he said.
Australia Day is the most popular day of the year to become a citizen. Across Australia, around 13 700 people from 144 countries are becoming Australian citizens in 365 ceremonies as part of Australia Day celebrations.
‘More than four million people have chosen to become Australian citizens since the first citizenship ceremony in 1949, enriching our nation’s culture and traditions,’ Mr Bowen said.
‘We look forward to the contribution our newest citizens will make to the Australian community.’URL: http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2012/cb182123.htm
Last update: Wednesday, 25 January 2012 at 23:46 AEST