Australian citizenship spirit blooms at Canberra Floriade
Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC presided over her first citizenship ceremony at Canberra’s annual Floriade exhibition last Sunday, 14 September. Photos from Dept of Immigration and Citizenship and Governor-General’s website.
Almost 60 new Australian citizens added to the spectacle of Floriade today in a ceremony which started a week of celebrations across the nation for Australian Citizenship Day 2008.
Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC participated in the Canberra ceremony in which people from Ethiopia, India, the Philippines and United Kingdom were among those who became citizens, joining more than 2500 people in the ACT who embraced Australian citizenship in 2007-08.
In the coming week, more than 1,600 people will receive citizenship in dozens of events for Australian Citizenship Day 2008 (celebrated on September 17).
The Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), Andrew Metcalfe, said Citizenship Day was an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate citizenship and think about its significance to the nation.
‘Citizenship binds Australians together through our common commitment to the nation and our shared values,’ Mr Metcalfe said. ‘As citizens, we share a commitment to mutual respect, equality, freedom, the rule of law and democracy. We share responsibilities to the nation and the opportunity to have a say in its future through voting.
‘I welcome all of our new citizens and I urge all those who are thinking about becoming Australians to apply now.’
On September 17, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, will preside at a citizenship ceremony for 17 people at the National Museum of Australia.
Other Australian Citizenship Day events around Australia will include conferrals in Brisbane City Hall, on the Spirit of Tasmania in Devonport, in the grand ballroom at Sky City Casino in Darwin, at a scout hall in Albert Hall in Melbourne, in Ayers House in Adelaide and at DIAC’s Parramatta office in Sydney. #
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