COLOURFULWORLD

Friday 1 June 2018

I am Australian

On Wednesday 30th May, my husband and I attended our Citizenship ceremony held at 5pm at our council - City of Canning

We had to show a identity document and were then given a form to complete for automatic voting enrolment and then we took our places.


Inside the hall at the City of Canning council


The presentation started with a welcome to all new citizens, then the opening address by the Mayor - Mr Paul Ng, who talked about what it represents to become an Australian.
After a few speeches from other members of the Council, we were called up by groups as laid out in the procedure leaflet - we were in the second group.







The Mayor then read out the Australian Citizenship Affirmation and holding up our right hand we repeated the pledge after him.
We were then handed our certificates and went along to the end of the room to get a native pot plant and a commemorative coin.
I had to laugh, as in the first group there were 3 or 4 people who didn't know their right from their left and had in fact their left hand in the air, don't know if they were too nervous and just mimicked the Mayor who was facing them.


The Mayor, Mr Paul Ng

There were over 40 people of 18 different nationalities that swore allegiance to Australia in that ceremony.
After the 4 groups had gone through, everyone sang the Australian National Anthem, and then there was a closing address.
To end the ceremony one of the members of the council made us all laugh with a quiz about Australian slang words and those who answered correctly were given a chocolate.

The second group taking the pledge
 
                                             Holding our pot plants, certificate and coin

With the Mayor
The Mayor was then available for photos with the new citizens and just outside the hall there were drinks - juice, water and coke, and small cakes available to snack on.

Each family was entitled to take 2 guests and we had invited a couple who we've known for 34  years and who were actually the ones who invited us to Australia.

Since it was almost dinner time by the time it was all finished, the 4 of us went to dinner at a restaurant just a couple of blocks away to commemorate.
After 11 years in the country, it finally happened!

Apart from being able to vote, getting called for jury duty and being able to work for the Government (preference to citizens) and of course having to apply for an Australian passport to travel, nothing much changes for us.
Luckily for Portuguese citizens you are entitled to have more than one citizenship and still keep your Portuguese passport which comes in handy as it avoids having to apply for visas to visit certain countries. 
Certain countries like India don't allow their citizens to hold dual citizenship...


The City of Canning council building
The song "I am Australian"


45 comments:

  1. Very interesting. I wouldn´t have expected the pledges being based on God, though.

    Nice gesture with the plant and coin!
    Oh, LOL! Must be embarassing to hold up the wrong hand.... Something they probably will laugh about themselves (one day)!

    You look happy :-)
    Congratulations, Sami! xox

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    1. We actually did the Affirmation instead of either the pledges. A few months ago I attended a friend's ceremony and they either chose the one with God or without God depending on their beliefs.
      Thanks Iris, I was happy.

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  2. Um país que eu gostava de conhecer.
    Gostei de ver as fotografias.
    Um abraço e bom fim-de-semana.

    Andarilhar
    Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
    Livros-Autografados

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    1. Quando ca vier posso servir de cicerone, pelo menos em Perth. Obrigada Francisco.

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  3. So happy for you both! Congratulations!

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  4. Congratulations Sami and Jose.. after 11 years I'm sure you already feel at home in Australia, the good thing is being able to vote, so important. What a gorgeous dress Sami, you look fab!

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    1. Yes, voting is important.The dress is a Gabriella Frattini which I bought on sale.Thanks Grace, enjoy the weekend.

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  5. CONGRATULATIONS! Many happy happy years in your new home!

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  6. Parabéns aos dois! E ainda bem que dá para ficarem com a dupla :-)

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    1. Obrigada Paula, sim ainda bem,dá jeito ter as duas.

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  7. I know you have been planning this for at least two years, and it is fabulous that it finally happened. It is SO important to be able to vote. I'm so proud of both of you, and you look so happy. I suspect it was far more solemn than the photos conveyed.

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    1. Yes, it's a long wait Elizabeth, but finally over.

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  8. Congratulations cobber. You look very smartly turned out in the photos.

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  9. I had to look up that word Andrew, lol. Now I know a new word, thanks Andrew.

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  10. Congratulations Sami for both of you. Doesn't it feel a bit strange to be not a Portugese anymore?

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    1. Thanks Marianne. Not really, in theory I'm still Portuguese.

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  11. I don't really understand why countries care if a person holds more than one citizenship. "Oh no! he might take an expensive flight so he can vote for democratic elections in another country!"

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    1. but congrats to you both

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    2. Thanks Adam. I agree, it should make no difference.

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  12. Congratulations! I was most impressed that Australia gave you the coin along with the native plant AND then gave you drinks and cake! Mmmm.... I don't think that happens in America!

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    1. Thanks Kay. Talking to someone I know, they had were offered a big breakfast at their council. I was impressed with the plant and the coin too...

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    2. My son's girlfriend is from Armenia. She became an American citizen last year and I asked him what the ceremony was like for her. He said it was very straightforward and not at all welcoming. No sweet coin or potted plant for Americans. :-(

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  13. Dearest Sami,
    What a very special day for both of you and how considerate of you to invite the couple that invited you to Australia! Very touching for them as well; as a way of gratitude.
    That was a very small group but maybe even more personal. We did not have any photos and not even your spouse was allowed to sit with you; separated from all those sworn in. It was in Atlanta for both of us.
    Of course you mean Wednesday the 30th of May, you wrote here above June... that is yet to come.
    Wonder indeed if those were nervous; bet that was the reason as otherwise they never would have passed the previous tests.
    Congrats again and what are the pot plants above?
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Thanks for noticing the wrong date Mariette, I had read and re-read the post and didn't notice.
      Our friends were quite touched they were invited to the ceremony, each person is usually only entitled to invite 1 guest.
      I'll have to let you know about the plants tomorrow, as it's quite late now.

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    2. The plants are Swan river pea (gastrolabium celsianum) and Westringia grey box.

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    3. Sami, those are nice looking ones! What a special gift to receive.🌹

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  14. Many congratulations ... you must be so happy.
    Well done.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan, yes happy and relieved the whole visa process has finally ended!

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  15. Oh Sami, congratulations! That's just wonderful and I'm so very happy for you. Must have been a lot of studying too!

    Thanks for coming over to Marmelade Gypsy and weighing in on where you live in Perth. I loved the comments (in fact, as a whole the comments were far better than the post!) Thanks again!

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    1. Thanks so much Jeanie. Not too much studying, we had our written exam about 2 months ago with both passed it with 100%. It was a very interesting post, and also enjoyed reading about where other people live.

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  16. Sorry I'm a little late to say a massive congratulations on becoming an Aussie citizen. Your Australian native is practically a tree compared with what we were given in Victoria - how wonderful!
    I am, you are, we are Australian!
    Wren xxxx

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