Celebrating Australia Day, local style!
Posted on Tuesday, 10 January, 2012
You are cordially invited to join me welcome new citizens into our community, celebrating what it means to be Australian, and for a snag from the barbeque!
From 9am on Australia Day, the Rotary Club of Hamilton and I will be hosting the annual Hamilton Citizenship Ceremony at the Hamilton Town Hall located on the corner of Racecourse Road and Rossiter Parade.
Australia Day 2012 marks the end of a year of post-flood rebuilding. The iconic Australian ‘resilience’ has certainly been well-tested over the past 12 months!
While the morning is focused on creating new Australian citizens, we also provide the opportunity for existing Australian citizens to 'renew their vows' to our country.
For those of us who are citizens because we were born here, having a chance to stand up and make a pledge to our country alongside those who have recently chosen to call Australia home is a very moving experience.
This year 26 residents from 13 countries will pledge their commitment to Australia at the Hamilton Citizenship Ceremony, mirroring hundreds of similar services being conducted across the country.
A pleasant change for regular community attendees will be the newly air-conditioned Hamilton Town Hall, part of a co-funded Brisbane City Council and Federal Government refurbishment project of the Hamilton Town Hall.
Official guests at the Hamilton Town Hall will include the Federal Member for Brisbane the Hon. Teresa Gambaro MP and State Member for Clayfield and Shadow Treasurer Tim Nicholls MP.
Musical entertainment from Brisbane Brass and a traditional Australian barbeque by local Rotarians will be on offer.
New citizens are required to register at 8:30am, followed by the commencement of official proceedings at 9am. For more information contact the Hamilton Ward Office on 3403 1095.