Six new citizens welcomed

Fireworks, live music, bouncy castles, face-painting and food vans were just some of the ways Hedland residents were kept entertained at Australia Day festivities at Kevin Scott Oval.

The evening celebrations kicked off with the annual citizenship ceremony, which saw six people proudly receive their citizenship certificate and recite the public affirmation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Camilo Blanco said becoming an Australian citizen did not mean forgetting the country of birth or the country people grew up in. “What it means is a public commitment to embrace the Australian values and institutions, and bringing them the enrichment of diversity,” he said.

“There’s lots of reasons people have chosen this country and I have to say as the Federal Member for Durack, I’m absolutely thrilled you’ve decided to join our Australian family,” she said.