Recently, Mornington Island Hospital workers Erwin Arago and Genald Mararac became Australian citizens in the pristine Wellesley Island group (located approximately 550 kms from the nearest town centre of Mount Isa, Queensland).
Originally from the Philippines, the pair are among the 19000 people who will become Australian citizens this year.
With Mornington Shire Council running citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), the new citizens have been welcomed to both Australia, and the remote Queensland town – where their skills in health care are greatly required.
Mornington Shire Mayor Brad Wilson said “council runs citizenship ceremonies when the opportunity arises – consisting of reading the minister’s message, a Mayor’s welcome, citizenship preamble and citizenship pledges before the Australian national anthem plays”.
“The pair were then presented with citizenship certificates, and from that moment on – they are recognised as Australian citizens, ” Cr Wilson said.
Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows people born in the United Kingdom continue to be the largest group of residents born overseas, accounting for 5.3 per cent of the population, followed by 2.6 per cent born in New Zealand, 1.8 per cent born in China and 1.6 per cent born in India.
Currently Australia’s population growth is exceeding those of many other countries around the world, growing at about 1.8 per cent a year.
For more information on Australian Citizen ceremonies held on 17 September 2016, contact Immigration on 131 881.
For information about Mornington Shire Council, visit: www.mornington.qld.gov.au
With Mornington Shire Council running citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), the new citizens have been welcomed to both Australia, and the remote Queensland town – where their skills in health care are greatly required.
Mornington Shire Mayor Brad Wilson said “council runs citizenship ceremonies when the opportunity arises – consisting of reading the minister’s message, a Mayor’s welcome, citizenship preamble and citizenship pledges before the Australian national anthem plays”.
“The pair were then presented with citizenship certificates, and from that moment on – they are recognised as Australian citizens, ” Cr Wilson said.
Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows people born in the United Kingdom continue to be the largest group of residents born overseas, accounting for 5.3 per cent of the population, followed by 2.6 per cent born in New Zealand, 1.8 per cent born in China and 1.6 per cent born in India.
Currently Australia’s population growth is exceeding those of many other countries around the world, growing at about 1.8 per cent a year.
For more information on Australian Citizen ceremonies held on 17 September 2016, contact Immigration on 131 881.
For information about Mornington Shire Council, visit: www.mornington.qld.gov.au
