DeVrye Welcomes New Citizens
BY ALEX TIGANI
The Upper Hunter welcomed 28 new Australian citizens across three events on Wednesday morning.
A group of 13 new citizens from Nepal, Czechoslovakia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Russia, South Africa, USA and the Philippines took their pledge in Scone under mayor Maurice Collison on behalf of Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke.
Moments after the ceremony they were treated to an inspiring and tear-jerking speech from Canadian born author and corporate businesswoman Catherine DeVrye.
She has called Australia home for 40 years, carried the Olympic torch on the day of the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony and is most proud of the emu and kangaroo placed on her passport.
“Being a good Australian doesn’t come automatically with a citizenship or a passport, it is about the choices we make,” she declared.
“In Australia we have to dare to dream, dare to fail, dare to pick ourselves up and try again because it is all about attitude.”
MEANWHILE George Souris AM was the guest speaker at the Singleton ceremony.