HORSHAM Rural City Council officiated over nine people taking the oath and becoming new citizens of Australia on Monday.
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Among the group were the Leslie family, who where originally from Papua New Guinea.
Dr Jonathan Leslie and his wife Dr Gwenda Tabagua were in the process of moving to Ballarat for work but they had the ceremony in Horsham council civic centre.
The family, including daughter Diani and sons Jireh and Asher, got their start in Australia thanks to job opportunities at the Wimmera Base Hospital.
Dr Leslie came over to work for Wimmera Health Care Group as an emergency department doctor in 2005.
“It’s a privilege to become an Australian citizen,” he said.
“The first place we came to in Australia was Horsham.
“I’d like to thank the health care group for giving us that opportunity that led to Australia becoming our home.”
Also taking the oath on Monday were James Karaka, Sharon George, Thuong Le and Hugh Goldson.
The new Australian citizens recited an oath and were presented with certificates and Australian flags.
“From this time forward, under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey,” the oath stated.
The Sing Australia Horsham group performed Advance Australia Fair with the new citizens and their supporters joining in.