Australia Celebrates Australian Citizenship Day 2010

03 Sep 2010

New Australians, a group of 20, hailing from UK, Japan, India and Korea joined Australian family at a special ceremony in Burnie, Tasmania during the launching of Australian Citizenship Day 2010.

They are the first of thousands of people across the country who will become citizens on and around Australian Citizenship Day on September 17.

“Australian Citizenship Day was introduced in 2001 as an opportunity for people to take pride in our citizenship and reflect on the meaning and importance of being Australian,” a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said.

“Citizenship is the bond which unites us all in our culturally diverse nation. It symbolises our sense of belonging to the country where we have been born or have decided to make our home.

“Australian Citizenship Day celebrations provide an occasion for all of us to be proud of being part of this great nation. It is also a special day for our newest Australians to join our extended family at ceremonies around the country.”

Some 3,600 people from 118 countries will become citizens at 69 ceremonies across Australia as part of Australian Citizenship Day.