Benalla Rural City Council recently welcomed 14 new Australian citizens during a special citizenship ceremony held at the Benalla Art Gallery.
The newest citizens, from seven different countries including India, China, the United Kingdom, Samoa, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines, were welcomed by Benalla Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Bernie Hearn, who was the presiding officer for the ceremony.
We congratulate and welcome Jasreet Kaur Brar, Ka Ho Chow, Ms Sharon Thompson, Mr David Edwin Ulberg, Ms Anna Zitye, Mr Rumeshkumar Navaratnam, Mrs Kalaivani Suntharalingam, Akshayah Rumeshkumar, Hariprasath Rumeshkumar, Heshanth Rumeshkumar, Mr Antonio Igana Umandal, Ms Elesita Soriano Diwa, Ezekiel Anthony Diwa Umandal, and Ezebell Kamille Diwa Umandal.
Mayor Cr Bernie Hearn said Refugee Week is an opportunity to come together as a community to reflect on and celebrate our vibrant multicultural society, and welcome the newest Australian citizens to our community.
“It was an honour to preside over the Citizenship Ceremony during Refugee Week and officially welcome 14 new citizens to our community, I congratulate each of them,” Cr Hearn said. “Citizenship Ceremonies are one of the highlights of being Mayor – it’s so great to see the pride and joy on such a special day.”
Australian citizenship ceremonies are an important part of our nation’s celebrations. Our newest citizens have joined over 6 million people who came before them who have chosen to become citizens since the first citizenship ceremony held in January 1949.
Benalla Rural City Council congratulates all our newest citizens and wish them the best in this new stage in their lives.