Millicent Spencer and Elsie Lange
One-hundred-and-forty-seven new citizens were welcomed to the Hume municipality on Australia Day, in a celebration of a region which has “built prosperity on the foundation of immigration”.
Dressed for celebration, attendees on Thursday, January 26, took their seats and waited to be pronounced citizens, some after many years of waiting.
Gathering at Broadmeadows Town Hall, residents listened to the voices of local, state and federal government representatives discuss what it means to them to be Australian.
Hume mayor Joseph Haweil said he was proud his municipality was home to people from 170 different countries who speak over 150 different languages.
“We’re a leading example of a multicultural community coming together to celebrate what makes us different and what brings us together as Australians,” Cr Haweil said.
He said since Australia’s first citizenship ceremony in 1949, the country had welcomed more than five million new citizens to Australian shores.
Of those new citizens was Syed Rizvi from Roxburgh Park who said he was very excited about the ceremony.
“We are feeling bright and happy,” he said.
“We moved from Pakistan in 2017… everything here is calm and quiet.”
Shyam Varghese and his son Jakes migrated from India too, but after reciting their pledge they now call Craigieburn their forever home.
“It’s an awesome day… we can’t ask for anything more,” Mr Varghese said.
“It’s been eight years, so a long journey.
“It’s such an open country – it’s so very welcoming and everyone feels equal here.”
For Broadmeadows local George Adam and his family, the day had “finally“ come for them to be declared as citizens after waiting six years.
“It’s a nice thing to have become a citizen [because] we can do everything now,” Mr Adam said.
Mr Adam’s sister, Jezelle Adam said she was excited her family could officially call Australia home.
“It’s an honour to be an Australian citizen… we have a lot of privilege.”
Federal Calwell MP Maria Vamvakinou used her speech to rally the audience around the First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum, set to take place this year.
“The next year will be important to our people, as Australians, as we contemplate the referendum that’s to come, that will ask us whether we want a Voice in Parliament for Indigenous Australians,” she said.
“I just wanted to say to you all how important that referendum would be and how important these outcomes will be in determining the future of this country.”
