Today is Australia Day. A day that Australians throughout the country and living abroad gather to celebrate their national day in true Aussies fashion – namely barbecues and beers.
Held on 26th January every year, the day mark the arrival of the first fleet of British ships that arrived in the land today known as Australia in 1788 – and set the country on its path to becoming the nation it is today.
However, in recent years the day has become particularly special to some people for a new reason. Each year, more and more citizenship ceremonies are being held on Australia Day, as permanent residents take their citizenship oaths on their adopted home country’s national day.
Today over 16,000 people from 150 different countries will make the pledge to become Australian citizens across the nation. There will be over 400 ceremonies held across all states and territories this Australia Day.
“Australia Day gives all citizens, new or old, the opportunity to openly reflect on what it means to be Australian,” said Peter Dutton, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.
“Australian citizenship ceremonies are an important part of our nation’s celebrations, with more people becoming citizens on Australia Day than any other day of the year.
“Today we celebrate the characteristics and values that make us proud to call ourselves Australian citizens, including our unique Indigenous Australian living culture and our multicultural diversity, particularly our newest Australians formally welcomed at Australia Day citizenship ceremonies,” Mr Dutton added.
Today’s newest citizens join more than five million others who have chosen to become Australian citizens since the first ceremony in 1949.
We at Emigrate2 would like to wish Australians all over the world a happy Australia Day.
Article published 26th January 2017