Cessnock welcomes 24 new Citizens as part of COVID Safe Ceremony
Published on 22 September 2021
New citizen, Dr Philip Janson, whose country of origin is England
We're proud to have welcomed 24 new Australians as part of a special online Ceremony held on the 20th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship Day.
Council facilitated the COVID Safe Ceremony, which saw residents from all over the world officiated as Australians and residents of the Cessnock Local Government Area.
Citizens were welcomed from Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Finland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.
The Ceremony was presided over by Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent and attended by local representatives the Federal Member for Hunter, Joel Fitzgibbon MP and Federal Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson MP.
Council gifted each new Citizen a native plant to mark the special occasion, which they collected following the Ceremony.
Cessnock City General Manager, Lotta Jackson was pleased Council was able to proceed with the Ceremony despite COVID-19 challenges.
“It’s great that we were able to forge ahead and celebrate with our new Citizens on the 20th Anniversary of Australian Citizenship Day,” she said.
Cessnock Mayor, Bob Pynsent said it was wonderful to see so many people wanting to call Cessnock, Australia home.
“It was fascinating to hear all the different stories from our new Citizens and find out what inspired them to become Australians.
“Congratulations and thank you once again for choosing to call the Cessnock region home,” he said.