The increasing cultural diversity among Baw Baw Shire residents was highlighted at a recent citizenship ceremony.
Thirty-three people from 19 countries formally became Australian citizens at the ceremony led by mayor Danny Goss and Member for Monash Russell Broadbent.
Cr Goss said he was delighted the new citizens had chosen to live in the shire and encouraged them to become involved in the community through sporting and community groups, schools and kindergartens and local service and social clubs.
On behalf of all Australians and Baw Baw Shire Cr Goss congratulated them saying he looked forward to seeing their future successes.
Mr Broadbent shared a welcome message to the group from Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Tony Burke.
Five family groups were among those conferred with citizenship.
They were Lorence Santiago Antonio and Kylix Brylle Herrera Antonio; Ramandeep Kaur Gill and Biraj Singh Gill; Anumol Johny and Mikel George Mathew; Yeukai Mawire, Freddy Mawire and Mavis Anashe Mawire; and Larissa Ingabire, Jules Bertrand Niragira, Melodie Danielle Niragira, Micah Lee Tresor Niragira and Mikael Prince Mukiza Niragira.
The other nominees were Onwilasini Stewart, Levi Daniel Payton Schmidt, Kyrena Anne Ashford, Jun Cheng, Shahirah Hayes, Jevan Neil Hogben, Kuldip Kaur, Iryna Laskavenko, Amelia Jade Lukins, Asanka Chamila Manawaduge, Khurram Perwaiz Mirza, Marion Ann Moyle, Daniel Earl Mayson, Navdeep Kaur, Robert Melvin Earl Norton, MaryChol Neryal Onkui, Maria Ernica Margaha Palabrica, Maria Vasselinova Petrova and Linda Randall.
The countries they came to Australia from were Bulgaria, Burundi, Canada, China, India, News Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Republic of South Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zimbabwe.
Cr Goss told them Australian citizenship is a common bond involving reciprocal rights and obligations and uniting all Australians while accepting their diversity.
It is accepted a pledge to be loyal to Australia and its people, share democratic beliefs, respect rights and liberties and upholding and obeying the law of Australia, the mayor stated.