Gunnedah welcomed seven new Australian citizens on Australia Day.
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Rebecca Joyce, of Ireland and Reinier Coetzee, Linda Nortje, Marlon Martin, Riana Martin, Jude Martin, and Tre Martin, all of South Africa, all pledged their loyalty to Australia and its people on Saturday morning.
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The ceremony was held near the Dorothea Mackellar Memorial in Anzac Park, and each new citizen was gifted a native tree by Gunnedah Shire Council to mark the occasion. Friends and family turned out in support of the new citizens.
Citizen of the Year (40+) George Avard shared some words about his hometown with the new citizens.
“The values of being an Australian citizen are well demonstrated throughout this community – comradeship, fellowship, and helping your neighbours,” he said.
“I was always taught if you couldn’t do someone a good turn, you certainly wouldn’t do someone a bad turn.
“I just feel blessed that I live in a town like Gunnedah.”
It’s important that we remember how blessed we are to live in Australia.
- The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC
The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC was among the crowd at the ceremony and gave certificates to the new citizens.
“Hearing your stories about why you moved to Australia made me feel a little bit emotional,” she said to the citizens.
“It’s important that we remember how blessed we are to live in Australia.”
Gunnedah mayor Jamie Chaffey said it was great to see more individuals choose Australia as their home.
“This is the biggest privilege as mayor – to give those people that have chosen Australia … the opportunity to become Australian citizens,” Cr Chaffey said.
“We are blessed to live in a community that embraces cultural diversity and the fresh ideas and unique stories from all over the world that our new citizens bring.”
