Australia Day Celebration and Citizenship Ceremony

I am delighted to welcome our distinguished guests:

• Dr Anna Finizio representing Hon Vincenta Tarzia MP, Member for Hartley
• Ms Cressida O’Hanlon MP, Member for Dunstan
• Mr Jack Batty MP, Member for Bragg
• Senator Mariel Smith, Senator for South Australia
• Mr James Stevens MP, Member for Sturt
• Ms Kaitlin Purcell, Australia Day Ambassador
• Recipients of the Local Australia Day Awards

Welcome also to my fellow Elected Members:

• John Callisto
• Kevin Duke
• Connie Granozio
• Hugh Holfeld
• Garry Knoblauch
• Christel Mex
• Kester Moorhouse
• Grant Piggott
• Sue Whitington
• and their partners.

And a warm welcome to council staff in attendance this morning.

We have apologies from:

• Cr Claire Clutterham
• Cr Victoria McFarlane
• Cr Josh Robinson.
• Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mario Barone PSM.

I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to the 41 people who this morning will become Australian Citizens and of course, their families and friends who are here to witness this solemn ceremony.

Our program this morning includes our Australia Day Awards, a performance from the Australian Girl’s Choir and of course, a Citizenship Ceremony.

It is now my great pleasure to introduce Kaurna Elder, Uncle Tamaru, who will deliver the ‘Welcome to Country.’

Uncle Tamaru delivers ‘Welcome to Country.’

Thank you, Uncle Tamaru.

Speech

Today is a day when Australians pause and think about our past, our present and our future.

Australia is an imperfect country, and we recognise that for some Aboriginal people and others, today is a difficult day.

But we also know the debate about Australia Day did not start yesterday and it will not end tomorrow,

So, let’s take this opportunity to celebrate the day in between – today, 26^th January.

It’s a time to think about the society we live in and who we are as a people. 

It’s a time to honour our fellow Australians who were presented with Australia Day Awards by the Prime Minister in Canberra last night:

• Australian of the Year - Neale Daniher AO
• Senior Australian of the Year - Brother Thomas Oliver (Olly) Pickett AM
• Young Australian of the Year - Dr. Katrina Wruck

We honour them as Australians who represent the best of us.  

We also honour and celebrate the hundreds of Australians from all walks of life, who were appointed with Australia Day Honours.

We thank them for their outstanding service to their communities and in some cases, the country.  

We also thank and honour the countless other Australians who have not been recognised with Honours today.

Everyday Australians — our neighbours and friends whose name we will not read in the newspaper or online — but who, day-in and day-out, quietly go about their business serving others without fuss or fanfare, seeking neither recognition nor reward, offering help with humility.

It is on their shoulders that we stand today.

They should serve as an inspiration to all of us about the virtues of volunteering, of service to others, and making a positive difference to our country.  

It is not by the example of their power but by the power of their example that shows us the way towards a better Australia.

Here in the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, we are proud to have people who have shown the power of their example in helping others in their community.

Today, they will be honoured with local Australia Day Awards.

Presentation of Local Citizen of the Year Award

It is now time for the Presentation of Young Citizen of the Year Award - Ethan Chen

Citation read by Cr Hugh Holfeld

Presentation of Active Citizen of the Year Award

It is now time for the Presentation of Active Citizen of the Year Award - Thomas Marlin

Citation read by Cr Grant Piggott  

Presentation of Community Event of the Year Award

It is now time for the Presentation of Active Citizen of the Year Award - Cheeky Grin Coffee Longest Table

Citation read by Cr Connie Granozio

Presentation by Australia Day Ambassador

It is now my pleasure to introduce Ms Kaitlin Purcell, one of many Australia Day Ambassadors attending Australia Day celebrations in our state.

At just 16 years old, Kaitlin was awarded a highly commended certificate from the Order of Australia Association.

Before completing year 12 at Strathalbyn High School, Kaitlin attended five different schools due to family relocations.

It is an experience Kaitlin says she is grateful for because it gave her the opportunity to learn and teach indigenous art and culture and be involved with some very unique extracurricular school activities.

Then Premier Steven Marshall awarded Kaitlin the Commendation Emerging Leader award at the 2021 Inspiring South Australian Women’s Awards, which recognises outstanding women who have made a significant contribution to the community.

Kaitlin has supported the introduction of women’s football across many regional communities as well as inspired many to connect with this code.

She established the second league to exist under the Great Southern Football League for females and received 2018 Female Coach of South Australia from North Adelaide Football Club.

Her passion and commitment to the sporting industry is demonstrated through her multiple volunteering roles including the role of sports trainer for the Australian Combined Emergency Services, the Australian Police Football Association and committee member for the far North Football League.

In this league, Kaitlin commenced and coached the junior girls’ football teams. 

Her work in supporting the community is further highlighted through her ambassadorial role for Around the Camp Fire, a not-for-profit sporting organisation with an aim to promote reconciliation and encourage diversity on the sporting field.

Kaitlin is an inspiring pioneer for young females across the state; through her hard work and determination she has helped to remove barriers as well as motivate younger generations to pursue their true passions.

In addition to her passion for Aussie rules football and being a role model for young girls, Kaitlin enjoys sharing her life journey on her social media platforms and expressing her feelings through paintings.

Please join me in welcoming Kaitlin to the lectern.  

Australia Day Ambassador comes to the lectern

It’s now time for some entertainment.

We are privileged once again to have the Australian Girls Choir perform three classic Australian songs for us.

• ‘My Island Home’
• ‘I still call Australia home’.
• ‘You’re the voice’.

Please join me in welcoming the Australian Girls Choir.

Australian Girls Choir performance

Thank you, girls, for your amazing performance.

We’ll now take a short break and return for the Citizenship Ceremony.

10:30am - Citizenship Ceremony

We now come to a very important part of today’s proceedings – the Citizenship Ceremony.

Can I ask candidates for Citizenship to please make your way to the area to my left before we commence the Ceremony.

For more than 60,000 years this country has been enriched by the wonderful diversity of cultures that underpin our society.

First by Aboriginal people, and over the last 237 years by people from all corners of the earth.

Australia’s story – its great unfinished story - is a story of migration.

It is our story.

All of us here today are either migrants or descendants of migrants.

The 2021 Census reported that almost one in two Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas.

Since the end of the Second World War, nearly 9 million people, more than 800,000 of whom were refugees and humanitarian entrants, have made their way to settle in Australia.

Every one of them has come to Australia not with the expectation of living the high life but rather, with the hope of living a full life; a life of dignity, a life with meaning, a life of happiness.

More than one in four Australians were born overseas and nearly one in two Australians have at least one parent born overseas.

Australia’s migrant history has been shaped by stories of heartache and hope, struggle and sacrifice, tragedy and triumph.

For many post-war migrants, including my parents who came to Australia in the early 1960s, the move to Australia was an opportunity to come out of the cold dark shadows of poverty into the warm sunshine of prosperity.

To the candidates for citizenship here today, this ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter your own life.

Citizenship is about rights and responsibilities.

It is a life-long invitation to participate in the cultural, economic and social life of the country you now call home.  

Before I call upon candidates for Citizenship to take the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance, it is my duty to read to you Schedule 1 of the Australian Citizenship Ceremony Regulations 2007.

Australian Citizenship represents full and formal membership of the community of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Australian citizenship is a common bond, involving reciprocal rights and obligations, uniting all Australians, while respecting their diversity.

Persons on whom Australian citizenship is conferred enjoy these rights and undertake to accept these obligations:

• By pledging loyalty to Australia and its people;
• By sharing their democratic beliefs;
• By respecting their rights and liberties; and
• By upholding and obeying the laws of Australia.

I now invite Senator Smith to the lectern to read a message from Hon Tony Bourke MP, Federal Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Arts and Cyber Security, and then say a few words.

Thank you, Senator.

In a few moments time, Australia becomes an even better nation.

When you make the citizenship pledge you take on the privileges and responsibilities of Australian citizenship.

From that moment your journey and heritage will become part of our shared Australian story.

We are privileged to share this beautiful country with First Nations Australians, the custodians of the world’s oldest continuing culture.

Appreciating and understanding this truth is a vital part of what it means to be Australian.

Australia welcomes you as a full member of one of the most diverse nations on earth where our citizenship is a bond which unites us all.

Australia welcomes you and everything you bring to Australia.

Today your new nation says to you “welcome home”.

Parliamentarian’s presentations

• Ms Cressida O’Hanlon, Member for Dunstan
• Mr Jack Batty MP, Member for Bragg
• Mr James Stevens MP, Member for Sturt

 

 

 

I would ask those candidates for Citizenship who will be taking the pledge (you may choose to say the words under God), to please stand and repeat after me:

From this time forward, under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people. Whose:

• Democratic beliefs I share
• Rights and liberties I respect, and 
• Whose laws I will uphold and obey

Thank you. Please be seated. 

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in congratulating our new Australian citizens!

Names of Australian Citizens

As I call your name, will you please come forward to accept your Citizenship Certificate and a gift from the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters.

• Shienna Bellaflores ABELLA
• Mohammad Hussain AKBARI
• Margherita BUSELLI
• Peng CHEN
• Yong DING
• Aiza Dizon DUMLAO
• King Lun FUNG
• Yat Sze LEUNG
• Tobias MAECHLER
• Anh Tuan PHU
• Migara Thiranjaya PANDITARATNE
• Yan Ki TSANG
• Julie Anne TURNER
• Brent Mathew LOFTUS
• Paetyn Leigh LOFTUS
• Dulani Prashanthini EKANAYAKE
• Themiya Loku Banda EKANAYAKE
• Deborah Maree JAMES
• Gareth Edward JAMES
• Juliana Maree JAMES
• Alexander Edward JAMES
• Gaurav KAPUR
• Sakshi KAPUR
• Samaira KAPUR
• Mehar KAPUR
• Farid HABIBI
• Mehrnoosh JANATI FARD AMOZEGAR
• Rahul KUNDU
• Parul KUNDU
• Agastya KUNDU
• Muhammad Adil IQBAL
• Sitwat Adil KHAN
• Muhammad Ebrahim Adil IQBAL
• Kamaldeep Singh SODHI
• Gurpreet Kaur SODHI
• Rehas Singh SODHI
• Eunsol LEE
• Kyujin LEE
• Adrian-Catalin GROSU
• Ana-Maria GROSU
• Ania GROSU

As Australian citizens, you now have the right to vote, to stand for public office, and to travel on an Australian passport as ambassadors for Australia.

Your right to participate in the political process enables you to make a greater contribution to the social and economic life and future of this country.

You are encouraged to seize the opportunity to fully participate in the direction Australia takes through participating in the democratic process.

I am sure you will all give much to Australia and to your community, and that you will all help to ensure that our nation’s freedom and independence is preserved for future generations.

On behalf of the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, I again congratulate you on becoming Australian Citizens, and extend my best wishes to you and your families for a healthy, happy and prosperous future.

I now encourage you all to stand and repeat the Affirmation to Australia after me and then remain standing for the National Anthem of Australia to be sung by Mr Lou Pisaniello.

From this time forward

I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people

Whose democratic beliefs I share

Whose rights and liberties I respect, and

Whose laws I will uphold and obey.

Please remain standing for the National Anthem of Australia.

 

 

 

That includes today’s formalities.

Thank you all for being a part of this special Australia Day celebration.

Before we break, I ask you to please show your appreciation for the wonderful efforts of Council staff to organise and deliver today’s event.

Please also thank Indulgence and Council Volunteers for providing breakfast today.

Please enjoy the rest of Australia Day.

Thank you and good morning.

Mayor

Robert Bria