Welcome home to new citizens

SWAN Hill Rural City Council officially welcomed four new citizens in Robinvale.

In a ceremony just metres from the banks of the Murray River, Ching-Hui Hung, Wai Ki Smith, Faleua Romeo and Andrew Wright became Australians.

Latji Latji elder, Aunty Susan Baxter, gave the Welcome to Country before reading a poem for the soon-to-be citizens.

“As you walk this Country, you become part of a story that breathes and grows, carried by generations, women through the lives of my people,” Aunty Baxter said.

“The Country sees you; the ancestors hear your footsteps.

“We welcome you to walk gently; to speak with care; to move with respect.

“Welcome to my Country, together we will walk with kindness in our steps.”

Faleua Romeo first came to Australia from Tonga for a wedding in 2010.

Two years later, she met her husband, Frank, at the Euston Hotel, and the pair have been together since.

“I love living in Australia; staying here is much better than the city, nice and quiet and easy to find a job,” Mrs Romeo said.

The farm supervisor wore a stunning traditional Tongan dress for the ceremony.

“This is our traditional way of dressing, I’m still very proud of my home country,” she said.

Andrew Wright, a familiar face to many in the Robinvale community, has lived in the town for six years after being sponsored by Ritchie’s as the supermarket store manager.

Originally from just outside Birmingham, England, Mr Wright said it had been a long journey to becoming a citizen.

“Even when you’re on a visa, you don’t actually feel like you are part of the country fully until you get that citizenship,” he said.

“I think Australians have a much more relaxed way of live, which is a lot nicer; it’s a lot more community focused and sports related which is really good.

“It’s a beautiful place to stay, and it’s lovely up here in the Sunraysia.”

Jade Benham MP said it was always a very pleasant surprise seeing familiar faces in the community receive their citizenship.

“It’s amazing when you rock up to these and see people like Andy and Faleua,’” she said.

“Every citizenship ceremony, and every council, is quite different but the Robinvale ones are great for all manner of things including the multiculturalism of this town.

“I think it’s also important to acknowledge and thank them for choosing our region to make their home, it just adds to the richness.

“A bit of gratitude passed on to the people that have chosen to live here, and who love this region as much as we do.”

Mayor Stuart King said conferring citizenship was the best part of his job.

“There’s opportunity for everybody to come here, to set down roots and thrive,” he said.

“A really important part of the ceremony is to say welcome, and welcome home.”