LOCAL LIFE
Celebrating Australian Citizenship Day 2023
L-R State Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Presong with Le Mai Nguyen Vo and Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman .
The Hawkesbury has welcomed 120 new citizens who came from a diverse range of countries including Belgium , Brazil , Britain , Canada , Peoples Republic of China , Colombia , Czechia ( Czech Republic ), India , Indonesia , Iran , Republic of Ireland , Korea , Malta , Netherlands , New Zealand , Northern Ireland , Pakistan , the Philippines , South Africa , Spain , Sri Lanka , United Kingdom , United States of America and Vietnam .
Hawkesbury City Council held the Australian Citizenship Day ceremonies during September at the Windsor Function Centre , proceedings were officiated by the Mayor of Hawkesbury , Councillor Sarah McMahon .
The Md Morduzzaman and Nilufa Yeasmin family .
Darug woman Rhiannon Wright performed the Welcome to Country and the Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman gave a message on behalf of the Minister for Immigration , Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs , The Hon Andrew Giles MP , and a personal message .
State Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston , Air Commodore Bradley Clarke from RAAF Base Richmond and Chief Inspector Peter Jenkins , Hawkesbury Police Area Command also attended , along with Councillors Amanda Kotlash , Les Sheather , Paul Veigel and Nathan Zamprogno .
Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated annually on 17th September
Mayor Sarah McMahon with the Vorster family .
and is an opportunity for all Australian citizens , whether by birth or by choice , to reflect on the meaning and importance of their citizenship .
Mayor McMahon said receiving Australia Citizenship on Australia ’ s national citizenship day was special for everyone involved and would be a special memory for all .
“ Each year we are privileged to welcome new Australians as part of Australian Citizenship Day celebrations ,” Mayor McMahon said .
“ Whether we are citizens through birth or by active choice , Australian Citizenship Day is a chance for all Australians to take pride in our citizenship ; celebrate our democratic values and think about what unites us as Australians .
“ It is one of the greatest honours as a Mayor to confer citizenship upon people from all nations of the earth , who have such significant and varied stories about their journey to Australian citizenship . It gives me great pleasure to listen to every new citizen , knowing that this day brings so much joy because they now belong to the very best country , and can call themselves a ‘ true blue Aussie !’
“ I look forward to seeing our new citizens out and about in our community , taking part in the opportunities it brings and making their own contributions to our democratic society ,” she said .
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 161 // OCTOBER 2023 9