Hedland local Mark Castro shares personal story as 50 residents receive Australian citizenship

Fifty Australians received their citizenship at Port Hedland’s Civic Centre on Friday, each with a different story on why being recognised as an Aussie means so much to them. Mark Castro said receiving his Australian citizenship was a special, proud moment and every item of clothing he wore represented a part of his identity. “The Barong, which is the traditional shirt of the Philippines, represents my roots growing up,” he said. “The Akubra hat signifies my Australian dream. The mateship, the fair-go principle, even the cheekiness all point to my Australian-ism and I have been an Aussie right from the get-go. “The Aboriginal art on my shirt’s collar and cuffs depicts my deep connection to the Indigenous people of Australia and the rainbow button embodies my identity as a gay person. “Today I am proud to wear everything that is me, a Filipino, an Australian, an Aboriginal, a part of LGBTQI+, and most of all, a human being.” Mr Castro said he moved to Australia from the Philippines in 2017 not knowing what the future would hold. “Four and a half years later I am here with everything that I didn’t have back then and today I have officially become an Australian,” he said. Terry Enright was born in New Zealand but has called Australia home for the past forty years. For him, receiving his citizenship was the final step in being recognised as a true Australian and he said he was excited in the lead up to the ceremony. “It does mean a lot to me and I have been looking forward to it,” Enright said. “I moved to Hedland 10 years ago and I have unofficially been an Aussie for a while, my daughters are all Australian, so it is good to finally tick it off.”