The Hawkesbury recently welcomed 48 new citizens at an Australian citizenship ceremony on Tuesday, 17 September, as part of Australian Citizenship Day 2019, at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery.
The ceremony included new citizens originating from Brazil, Canada, China, India, Iran, Lebanon, Malta, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.
The Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert attended the ceremony which was proudly hosted by Hawkesbury City Council.
The Mayor 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.
“There is no greater privilege than our citizenship. It’s a life-long commitment to Australia’s values of freedom, democracy, equality and respect,” Mayor Calvert said.
“This year on Australian Citizenship Day, Australia welcomed the largest number of new citizens nationally since the inaugural Australian Citizenship Day in 2001.
“We are a thriving multicultural community,” he said.
“Each year we are privileged to welcome new Australians as part of Australian Citizenship Day celebrations.”
The Department of Home Affairs and local councils hosted 150 ceremonies across the country with more than 8000 people becoming Australian citizens as part of the special occasion.
Australian Citizenship Day
Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on 17 September. Managed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), Australian Citizenship Day is an opportunity for all Australian citizens, whether by birth or by choice, to reflect on the meaning and importance of their citizenship.
The Australian Government introduced Australian Citizenship Day in 2001 in response to a recommendation by the Australian Citizenship Council (established in 1998) in their 2000 report Australian Citizenship for a New Century. The recommendation came from a proposal of the 1999 National Schools Constitutional Convention that a citizenship day be established to allow all Australians
to celebrate their Australian citizenship. The Australian Citizenship Council noted that an annual citizenship day would increase community awareness of Australian citizenship while providing a focal point for citizenship-related activities and celebrations.
17 September was chosen as Australian Citizenship Day as it is the anniversary of the renaming, in 1973, of the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948 to the Australian Citizenship Act 1948.
The first Australian Citizenship Day was celebrated in 2001, coinciding with the Centenary of Federation.
