Six Gunnedah Shire residents will call Australia home after becoming citizens on Australian Citizenship Day.
Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated annually on 17 September and is a day for Australians to reflect on the meaning and importance of Australian citizenship, and the responsibilities and privileges we have as citizens.
A ceremony at The Civic was officiated by Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller and Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey.
Mayor Fuller welcomed the six new citizens from as far as Tanzania, who have chosen to make Australia their permanent home.
"Australia is a vast and beautiful place with many wonderful communities, so I am glad these six individuals have not only chosen Australia as their home, but also the Gunnedah Shire," she said.
"We have a friendly, vibrant community with a mix of diverse cultures that are celebrated and have enriched the social fabric of our Shire.
"I look forward to seeing what our news citizens will achieve as we step forward together."
Gunnedah's newest Australian citizens are:
- Farhad Dilyar
- Muhammad Arslan Javed
- Siriel William Northfield
- Jawed Poya
- William Nicholas Upchurch
- Pamela Hazel Jezard-Clarke
At the ceremony, Mayor Fuller presented Parkes MP Jamie Chaffey with the Emeritus Mayor Service Award on behalf of Local Government NSW.
The Emeritus Mayor Service Award recognises people who have served a minimum of five years as mayor and is nominated by the General Manager of the Council at which they served. Mr Chaffey was mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council from 2016 to 2024.
"I congratulate Jamie on this prestigious award for his eight years serving the Shire of Gunnedah," Mayor Fuller said.
"Jamie, alongside his fellow councillors, achieved a great deal in his time on Council and this award acknowledges the dedication he applied to the position."
Captions:
Gunnedah Shire Council Deputy Mayor Kate McGrath, new citizens William Nicholas Upchurch, Pamela Hazel Jezard-Clarke and Siriel William Northfield, Gunnedah Shire Mayor Colleen Fuller, new citizens Farhad Dilyar, Jawed Poya and Muhammad Arslan Javed, and Federal Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey at the Gunnedah Shire Citizenship Ceremony on Wednesday.
