Yesterday we became Australian Citizens, along with nearly one hundred other people. It was quite a fun evening in all. We arrived really early to register, for which we had to provide photo ID and our invitation letters. Then while we waited in our seats a young lady gave us forms to register for the electoral roll and helped us to fill them in. We arrived at least half an hour before we had to be in our seats - but at about 6.30pm a band of men in blue shirts marched in through the doors singing Waltzing Matilda in barbershop. They were great. They entertained us then until the ceremony began, and led us in the National Anthem before leaving.
We had short talks from various council members and MP's - they were really good and kept them brief. The evening was hosted by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Giovanni Italiano, JP, who told us about his own 'naturalisation' at age 13 and how proud his parents were. We were told that we should cherish our own cultures and bring them with us and that diverstiy was welcome. The pledge that we all take is our common bond as Australians. The MP for Stirling pointed out that at the last election neither candidate was Australian born, but nobody thought to comment on it in the press. We were called up in groups of 10 to stand on the stage at the front while Councillor Giovanni administered the pledge line by line, which we repeated together. When it was our turn, the Deputy Mayor was so taken by Seth who was diligently reading his card and repeating the pledge, that he leaned right forward in front of him and didn't take his eyes off him until the end. Then he shook everyone's hand in turn and handed them their certificate. After shaking Seth's hand, he also offered him a high five, which he accepted! Then we were given a commemorative coin by another of the Councillors. We'd all been given name badges to wear, so that they could call us by name and they asked us a question or two about how long we'd been there and where we were from etc. Although a formal occasion, they weren't too stuffy about it and people were allowed to get up and take photographs etc. In fact, at the end, Councillor Giovanni said there was one more test we had to pass..."If I say, Aussie, Aussie, Aussie... You say...?" To which we all reply "Oi! Oi! Oi!" which is their version of Huzzah!! Anyone who's been in Australia two years will know this and so after having to repeat it a little louder we all passed the test. There was a supper provided of traditional Aussie fare of hot party pies (meat pies) with ketchup, hot sausage rolls and spring rolls, a fruit platter and Lamingtons (a sponge cake with chocolate icing and coconut covering the outside).
We had a short chat with Councillor Giovanni who told us that if he could do it any of us could - looking at the boys, and even the girls, looking at Hannah, who joked that we could have another red-headed Prime Minster. We also chatted to a couple from Romania who had five children receive their citizenship - though it turned out they actually have seven - two of them married. It was a fun and interesting evening and they did a really great job of making us feel welcome as new Australians.
Australians all, let us rejoice, for we are young and free.
We've golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girt by sea.
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts of beauty rich and rare.
In history's page let every stage Advance Australia Fair
In joyful strains, then let us sing: "Advance Australia Fair."
The West Coast Chordsman singing "We are Australian"
I came from the dream-time, from the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame.
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come.
For forty thousand years I've been the first Australian.
I came upon the prison ship, bowed down by iron chains.
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.
I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian
I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run
I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian
I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains
I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian
We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I am, you are, we are Australian!
