By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs Regional Council welcomed four new Australians who completed their citizenship ceremonies at the Warwick Town Hall on Thursday 23 May.
Mayor Tracy Dobie officiated at the ceremony which was attended by the proud loved ones of the new citizens.
Below are the background notes read out at the ceremony by Cr Dobie about our latest naturalised Aussies – Nelly Flanagan, Juliet Heywood, Eugene Murphy and Thi Tuyet Doan.
Warwick State High School students and participants in the Clontarf Foundation – which supports the education and life skills of young Aboriginal and Torres Street Islander men – assisted with the ceremony by handing the new citizens native plants for their gardens, a regular gift at local citizenship ceremonies.
Congratulations to our ‘newest’ Aussies from the Free Times!
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Nelly Flanagan…
“Nelly has been in Australia almost 10 years, after moving here with her Australian husband after his work contract finished in Papua New Guinea. Nelly and her husband moved to Warwick from Dirranbandi last year, and she says they really love living here, as everything is so close and it’s not far to Brisbane to see relatives. Nelly is proud and feels privileged to live in a country where such good care is taken of you.”
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Juliet Heywood…
“Juliet loves Australia and its people because life here is based on the Christian faith. Juliet said she loves being a part of this beautiful country, because we are all Australian and it’s a multicultural country. Juliet said Warwick was the best place to live with her family, as there is a lot of opportunity and many Filipinos already settled here.”
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Eugene Murphy…
“Eugene is delighted to be finally become an Australian Citizen, because of the opportunities this country has given him over the last 10 years of living here. Eugene says he has been welcomed here and really made to feel as if he belongs here. Eugene really loves living on the Southern Downs, and said the people are so warm and welcoming and it has the same warm, country feel that he was used to living in Ireland.”
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Thi Tuyet Doan…
“After arriving in Australia nearly 9 years ago from Vietnam with her husband, Thi has found her place on the Southern Downs. She really loves living in Stanthorpe as it is very peaceful and says the people there are gentle and friendly.”
