Eighteen members of the Scenic Rim community, including two local residents, have become the region’s newest Australians following an early Citizenship Day ceremony at The Centre Beaudesert.
It represented the final step in the journey towards citizenship for residents from across the Scenic Rim who have come from 12 nations -the United Kingdom, Malaysia, the United States, the Czech Republic, Wales, Columbia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Chile, Tonga and Indonesia -to make Australia their home. Among them were Jana Brixi and Dennis Tampemawa.
Jani came to Australia from the Czech Republic seven years ago with the aim of improving her English. She now lives at Witheren with Australian partner Brad Kennedy, a member of the Gold Coast Wayward Suns band. An accountant and financial planner, Jani says she loves the spirit of Australia, its nature and its friendliness.
“It is so wonderfully different, and I feel so much at home,” she said.
Dennis moved from Jakarta to Australia in 2006 and now lives in Canungra with wife Shanae. He works as a tram driver for Gold Coast Light Rail and loves the freedom in Australia to express himself ‘right across the board’.
ScenicRim Mayor Greg Christensen said Australian Citizenship Day, first celebrated in 2001, was an opportunity for everyone to reflect on the responsibilities and privileges of living in one of the world’s most culturally diverse nations.
“Recently released census statistics have shown that half of all Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was, and our region has a proud history of welcoming people from all over the world,” he said.
“In 2021, more than 6450 people who were living in our region were born overseas, eight per cent of whom had arrived in Australia within the previous five years.”
“In January this year we welcomed as Australian citizens 23 Scenic Rim residents from 10 nations and in June another 15 from nine countries pledged their allegiance to Australia and its people.”
“Whatever our origins, our Australian citizenship is the common bond which unites us all,” Mayor Christensen said.
