Sixteen of Wodonga’s residents will be able to officially call Australia home when they pledge their loyalty at the council’s citizenship ceremony tonight.
The ceremony co-incides with ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Citizenship Day and is one the largest ceremonies in the city every year.
The citizens come from various countries including Sri Lanka, USA, Hungary, Bhutan and India.
Mayor Cr Anna Speedie said the ceremony was an opportunity for all Australians, whether they are citizens by birth or by choice, to come together to acknowledge what’s great about being Australian.
“It is a great privilege as mayor to conduct the citizenship ceremony,” Cr Speedie said.
“For our newest Australians and Wodonga community members it is a very important day and milestone. Every storey of each persons journey is unique but they all share the commitment to their new role as citizens of this great country.”
Australian Citizenship Day provides an occasion for individuals, schools, community groups and organisations to reflect on the values of Australian citizenship and the contributions of citizens to our local communities.
Wodonga Council holds five citizenship ceremonies a year and has welcomed 65 new citizens this year.
Australia Day and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Citizenship Day are the largest ceremonies on the calendar.
In the past, Wodonga has welcomed new citizens from Sri Lanka, USA, Hungary, Malaysia, Taiwan, Bhutan, India, Vietnam, Somalia, England, Columbia, Ireland, Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Netherlands, NZ, Philippines, Pakistan, China and the Congo.
