New Aussies Welcomed at Local Ceremony

The sun shone brightly and gave us true Brisbane summer weather as 58 “conferees” from 21 countries became new Australian citizens at The Gap State High School’s J. A. Robertson Hall on Australia Day, in a ceremony hosted by the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/ The Gap.

Official guests, including the Presiding Officer The Gap Ward Councillor Steven Toomey, were the Member for Cooper, Ms Jonty Bush MLA, the Principal of the High School Mrs Anne McLaughlan, the Rotary District Governor Tim Keeler AM, Lions President Peter Cooper, Probus President John Pitman AM, and Mrs Philippa Wightman OAM, publisher of The Western Echo.

After a flag raising ceremony conducted by six former Rotary Club Presidents – Dianne O’Malley, John Donaldson, Francine Hinton, Conrad Almeida, Padma Lal and Russ O’Malley and a welcome by current Club President Tim Boyd, Councillor Toomey opened the formal proceedings by reading the message from the Federal Minister Andrew Giles, as required by the Act.

Cr. Toomey then gave a short speech in which he related the Aboriginal story of Mirrabooka, who was asked to look after all the tribes, and was rewarded for good service by being placed in the heavens with eternal life, his head, hands and feet being seen as the stars on the constellation also known as the Southern Cross. He said we should look at the Southern Cross in the sky or on the flag in this light.

Ms. Jonty Bush MLA, member for Cooper, welcomed the conferees and emphasized the importance of community – a community which, as new citizens, they would be joining.

One thing that makes this Rotary ceremony different is that conferees are called upon to say their pledges of allegiance to Australia one family, or individual, at a time, rather than in the mass as at big Council ceremonies. So Cr. Toomey duly welcomed the families, we all heard the pledges, and on descending from the stage each family received souvenir Rotary certificates, and a native plant each courtesy of Brisbane City Council.

After the heart-felt singing of “We Are Australian” and the Australian National Anthem there was a massed group photo followed by a morning tea of traditional “Aussie tucker” – vegemite sandwiches, lamingtons, Tim Tams and some fruit to make it all healthy! The Gap Citizenship ceremony was once again emceed by the charismatic Ritchie Callaghan who, again as in previous years, brought his own inimitable style to a wonderful ceremony –concluding with his signature welcome of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.... OI! OI! OI!

A sad point: after decades of brilliant music-making at these local ceremonies, giving pleasure to thousands of new citizens and their guests, the “Royal Bounty Bush Band” have decided to hang up their instruments, retiring from public events gracefully. All who have heard them enliven these formalities will wish to thank them for cheering everyone on at what can be a daunting, significant and very emotional time. They will be a very hard act to follow and emulate.

Well done, a huge Cooee to Bob and all the Rotary crew who made the day run smoothly and without any hiccups – a job exceedingly well done and thoroughly enjoyed by all!