Three shire residents officially became Australian citizens during Narrabri Shire council’s meeting on Tuesday.
The mayor Cr Conrad Bolton performed a naturalisation ceremony and welcomed the newest Australians to the shire. Sandy Pagett moved to Australian from New Zealand in 1999, Michael Rozendaal, born in Namibia, has just completed his Higher School Certificate at Narrabri High,and Gail Berry, originally from Wales, has lived in Australia since 1954.
The citizenship ceremony is a small event but a significant occasion. The new citizens were ‘welcomed to country’ in Gommeroi language by Cr Les Knox and the mayor read out the message of welcome from the Minister for Immigration, Mr Scott Morrison, noting that 3.5 million people have moved to Australia from other countries since 1945. Following the ceremony, the new citizens, friends and family members adjourned to the adjacent annex for lunch as guests of the council.
Pictured: From left Aaron Pagett, Fonn Turner, (sister-in-law of Sandy Pagett), mayor Cr Conrad Bolton, new citizen Sandy Pagett, Pat Cawood and her grandson new citizen Michael Rozendaal, his parents Kim and Peter Rozendaal and new citizen Gail Berry.