By Margaret Maccoll
It was a moving ceremony for 48 Noosa residents from 17 different countries who took their pledge to become new Australians at a citizenship ceremony held at The J Theatre last Friday.
Some had come to Australia in search of a better life for themselves and their families while others arrived as tourists and stayed.
Rita Gazso travelled to Sydney from Romania 13 years ago for a holiday. She met her future husband Dave Barrie, took up study, and stayed. The couple now have three Australian daughters.
Ian and Augusta moved to Australia from South Africa four years ago. They discovered Noosa three years ago and decided to stay. In their search for a business they have since opened Happy Pops gelato store in Hastings Street.
Daniela Vernnezzi and Marcelo Nagatemo travelled from Brazil to Noosa to learn English. “We fell in love with the culture and nature. It’s paradise,” Daniela said.
Mayor Clare Stewart presided over the citizenship ceremony while singer Amanda Gilmour and guitarist Dave Burrows, performing as JazzString, inspired with their uplifting renditions of I Am Australian and the National Anthem.
Cr Stewart told the gathering it was citizenship that united us all and would enable the new citizens to be fully involved in a society with a national culture premised on equality.
She spoke of the enrichment of the nation by the diversity of its cultures and the need to defend our national values of freedom of religion, speech and association.
