Last week I had the pleasure of attending an Australian citizenship ceremony at the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council Chambers, along with Mayor Peta Pinson and Uncle Bill O’Brien.

These ceremonies are where people take the oath and pledge their allegiance to our country, and last week, 22 locals who’ve chosen to call the mid-north coast home were sworn in as new Australian citizens.

Our new citizens originate from all corners of the globe, and it may be difficult for any of us to say we’ve visited Moldova, Honduras, the Philippines, India, China, the United Kingdom, Britain, Malta, Argentina, Poland, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland and Thailand!

What a culturally diverse community we live in, with many different nationalities coming together to make our community so rich. With so many backgrounds, upbringings, experiences, ways of life and languages there is always the opportunity be fascinated through hearing new stories and learning about other cultures.

What I also love about welcoming new citizens is the joy on their faces as they become Aussies, and even the singing of our national anthem whilst it can be tricky to learn the words at first is sung with such passion that it really is uplifting.

A huge welcome to all our new Aussie mates… you have chosen to become an important part of the best country in the world.