Council welcomed 55 new Australians at a citizenship ceremony at Townsville Stadium on Wednesday, April 19.
Mayor Jenny Hill led the proceedings, with 26 different countries of origin represented among the newest citizens officially welcomed by Council.
These new citizens come from all over the world – including Belgium, Brazil, Russia, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Pakistan and the United Kingdom to name a few – and Cr Hill said she was always delighted to be a part of these ceremonies, something that she counts as one of the highlights of her role as Mayor.
“My fellow Councillors and I love welcoming brand-new Australian citizens and it’s something we all look forward to each month,” she said.
“It is always a meaningful and emotional occasion for all these people and families as they become citizens of the country they now call home.
“To be able to meet with these new citizens and hear a little bit about their backgrounds and how they made their way to Australia is truly inspiring.
“Townsville is a proud multi-cultural community and this diversity is just one of many reasons that makes Townsville a great place to live.
“Council is working hard to build an engaged community that enables every resident to have a sense of belonging and these citizenship ceremonies play an important role in that.”
The Mayor and local Councillors celebrated with the new citizens who officially made Australia their permanent home and presented them with citizenship certificates, Australian flags and a native plant.
After the ceremony, there was an afternoon tea where recipients met with the Mayor while friends and family took photos to commemorate the occasion.
For more information on citizenship ceremonies, go to Council’s website.
