Twenty-nine Macedon Ranges residents received Australian citizenship at a council-led ceremony last month.
The new citizens moved to the Macedon Ranges from a range of countries, including Canada, Germany, Malta, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Germany, Thailand, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
On Tuesday July 30, each adult received an Australian native plant and a badge that depicted the Australian flag and a golden wattle flower, and each child received a small gift.
New citizen Katrina Robertson said that she, her husband, and their firstborn child moved to Australia in 2009 from Christchurch, New Zealand, with the couple eventually choosing the Macedon Ranges as the region to raise their family.
Katrina and her family all received Australian citizenship this year, apart from her first-born son Elias, who received his last December.
“We loved the country feel of it, but we loved having Melbourne so close – having everything on your doorstep,” Ms Robertson said.
“[It’s] just a nice … environment for our kids to grow up in.”
Ms Robertson said that receiving official citizenship felt significant.
“It’s also very good for our kids, because two of our children were born here, so it just means everyone’s the same … and we feel like we belong now,” she said.
The department of home affairs processes Australian citizenship applications, inviting successful applicants to citizenship ceremonies.
During the ceremony, conducted by a mayor, the applicants must make the ‘Australian Citizen pledge’ as a legal requirement – which for most people, is the final step in becoming a citizen.
Oscar Parry
