PORT Macquarie is now home to 15 new Australian citizens after a citizenship ceremony was held at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council chambers on Thursday (June 30).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mayor Peter Besseling was host of the ceremony alongside Birpai elder Uncle Bill O’Brien and 2016 Young Citizen of the Year Megan Cooper.
People from all over the world, including England, Chile and Hong Kong, converged to take an oath, sing the national anthem and receive their official citizen certificates.
South American woman Angelica Francesca Aravena Matamala was one such person.
It was 16 years ago when visiting her god parents in Australia that her life would change.
She met the love of her life and has never looked back, swapping pesos for dollars and embracing the Australian culture.
“We didn’t want to be apart. We were so in love so I stayed, got married and now have two beautiful daughters,” she said.
“The real Aussie culture is similar to the Chile culture, very laid back and family orientated.
“However the language barrier was very difficult at the start.”
Angelica had to learn English and that was her toughest struggle. Once she overcame that, she has thoroughly enjoyed live down under.
“I’ve tried to bring the Chile culture here and I use to punish my husband by putting extra hot chillies in my cooking,” she laughed.
“We have been back to Chile a few times and my mother will be over to visit soon.
“It’s a beautiful country and I’m so very proud to now be a citizen after so long.”
Congratulations to new Australian citizens: Murtaza Ahmed, Angelica Francesca Aravena Matamala, Tinto Cherian, Paul Fenlon, Janice Hogan, Yong Chul Jo, Jaehyun Lee, Penelope Lansdowne, Doctor Cherylene Lee, Nirmal Kaur, Harsajan Singh Dhaliwal, Daniel Oliveira, Mark Preece, Margaret Tucker and Avni Walia.
Matt Attard
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
I was raised in Port Macquarie and consider myself a true Port local. I'm a die-hard rugby league fan and don't mind taking a photo or two. I'd love to hear from you, so please contact me at any time.
