Higher education opportunities and a love of Australia's music and coffee culture brought a young school leaver from a lakeside city in Nepal to Playford, where he became an Australian citizen on Australia Day.
After completing high school in Pokhara, City of Playford employee and resident Sid Gurung started his nine-year journey in Australia by first moving to Darwin as an international student to complete a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
"I wanted to study in Australia because it was at the top of the list for higher education," Sid said.
"I also already had family ties here, which made the move feel a lot easier."
The relaxed lifestyle of Darwin saw Sid establish the early stages of his career in local government, working across both the City of Palmerston and the City of Darwin. Alongside his engineering career, Sid took his passion for coffee to a new level, earning the title of Best Barista NT in 2023/2024.
Despite building a strong professional network and lifelong friendships in the Northern Territory, 12 months ago, an opportunity at the City of Playford proved too enticing for Sid to pass up.
"It was a Senior Traffic Engineer position and it had everything I was looking for in a role, so I decided to go for it," he said.
"My time in Darwin gave me valuable experience in local government and industry but after nine years it felt like the right time to start a new chapter."
Approaching his one-year anniversary at the City of Playford, Sid is enjoying the lifestyle and sense of community in Smithfield Plains.
"After living in Darwin and being so close to my workplace, it was important to me to find that again," he said.
Since moving to Smithfield Plains, Sid has developed a strong sense of belonging, which helped guide his decision to become an Australian citizen.
"I've often thought about what it would feel like to become a citizen," he said.
"While day-to-day life hasn't changed much, I truly understand and appreciate the opportunities citizenship will bring in the future. I'm looking forward to what I can contribute to the country and to continuing to be part of a diverse community that lives in harmony."
At the close of the citizenship held on Australia Day, City of Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty has conferred 5803 citizens.
"Our community welcomes Sid and all of our new citizens. We are proud they have chosen to be part of Playford's future and continuing to build a community that is a great place to live, work and play," Mayor Docherty said.
