Wentworth Shire Council welcomed nine new Australian citizens at a ceremony on Australian Citizenship Day, 17 September 2026. The ceremony was held in the Wentworth Conference Room.
The ceremony marked the final step in the citizenship journey for Mr Stuart Hyde and Ms Elizabeth Mangan from New Zealand; Ms Robyn Smit, Mr Wilhelm Smit, Mr Wilhelm Smit Junior, Miss Karli Smit and Miss Klara Smit from South Africa; Ms Natalie Whitelum from the United Kingdom; and Ms Alissia Kampeera from Thailand. Each new citizen made the Australian citizenship pledge, formally affirming their commitment to Australia and its people.
Australian Citizenship Day has been observed annually on 17 September since 2001. It provides an opportunity for Australians, whether citizens by birth or by choice, to reflect on the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, celebrate democratic values and consider the common bond that unites the nation.
More than 6.2 million people have become Australian citizens by conferral since Australian citizenship was introduced in 1949. The latest full-year figures published by the Australian Government show that 165,193 people from more than 190 nationalities became Australian citizens by conferral in 2024-25, reflecting the cultural diversity of communities across the country.
Wentworth Shire is home to people from a range of cultural and ancestral backgrounds. As 2026 Census data is yet to be released, the latest available population figures are from the 2021 Census, which recorded 7,453 residents in the Shire.
Wentworth Shire Mayor Councillor Daniel Linklater congratulated the new citizens and acknowledged the significance of making the pledge on Australian Citizenship Day.
“Citizenship is a significant commitment and an important milestone. On behalf of Wentworth Shire Council and our community, I congratulate our newest citizens and welcome them as they begin this next chapter,” Mayor Linklater said.
“Australian Citizenship Day reminds us that citizenship brings both rights and responsibilities. It is also an opportunity to recognise the different experiences, cultures and perspectives that contribute to the Wentworth Shire community. I look forward to seeing our new citizens and their families continue their journey in Wentworth Shire and contribute to the community we share.”
