Wednesday 19 November 2014

A Big Day

Another non-wargaming post. But an important one for my family and for me.

We emigrated to Australia from the UK just over six years ago. Today my wife Catherine, my daughter Maya and I became Australian citizens*.




My son Cei took the pictures. He became a citizen earlier this year.


Same mayor. Same choir. Same room.

Some statistics. In this ceremony, one of four or five held each year in Wollongong, fifty people became citizens. We came from sixteen different countries. The UK was well-represented, but there were people from China, Myanmar, Canada, the USA, Lebanon, Congo, Italy, Thailand, New Zealand, The Philippines, Iran, South Korea and even Azerbaijan.

It means that I can, indeed must, vote, can apply for government jobs, get an Australian passport and serve on a jury. And I can say that I'm Australian, which is really quite cool.

*Actually we all four have dual UK/Aussie nationality, as we have retained out UK passports. Handy, although it prevents us from becoming members of parliament here, were any of us so inclined to become one.

11 comments:

  1. Congratulations to you and your family.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  2. Congratulations - nice to retain dual UK citizenship too.

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  3. Congrats! My little brother is flying out from Scotland in a weeks time on a work visa, though I think he is planning on trying to stay if he likes it.

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  4. Congratulations to the entire family!

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  5. Congratulations! (I'm fascinated by the robes of the mayor.)

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    Replies
    1. They are something of a throwback to a bygone age :)

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    2. When I saw the first pic before reading the commentary I assumed it was some medieval reenactment that you were getting into over there in the East.

      Congratulations and commiserations about having to vote - voting is okay, it's just the lack of good choices.

      I got my citizenship back in the 70s and then all you had to do was send away for it like it was some prize on the back of a cereal packet.

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  6. What about 20 years service in the Auxilia first?! Congratulations, fellow citizen!

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  7. Congratulations to you and your family!

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