First post as a new citizen!

[wavelandscott]

Just a quick note to let everyone know that today, Australia Day 2007, my family and I have just become Australian citizens...

We enjoyed a very nice ceremony and got our certificates, flags, pins and native plants...oh yes, I almost forgot the we also learned the "secret handshake" ;) ...

Seriously though, it was a well done event and we are proud to join the citizens of "our" fair land.

Happy Australia Day to all!

[matt]

Very warm congrats to you and your family:)

What a fabulous thing to do, and something I've also recently undertaken.

It's a long and sometimes unnecessarily difficult process, though, given the Government says it's doing everything it can to encourage and expedite citizenship.

I began my process back in September/October, had my interview in November and won't have my ceremony until the end of April:sadeyes:

I've lived here, paid taxes, done all the other things (except vote) that regular Aussies do for 23 years since my family migrated from the UK back in the early 80s. Yet, it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be to get through the citizenship process.

Anyway... come April 27th... it'll all be worth it:)

I'm not doing any of this for any other reason than I believe it is the right thing to do, and that Australia is... and will remain... my home.

[mickoking]

Good onya cobber :thumbsup: I hope you enjoy being a citizen of this fair land. Bewdy mate :)

[gaa_ian]

Good on you Mate:thumbsup:
I watched one of our locals become an Australian Citizen here in Nhulunbuy NT this morning.
Its a great affirmation to make i think !

[GTB_an_Owl]

bugger! - does this means we can't poke fun at 'the YANK' with half a garage full of Stellar seats any more?

Congrats to you and the family Scott :thumbsup:

Oh! - and now you are dutifuly bound to help in the average national BEER consumption.

:cheers:

[snowyskiesau]

Congratulations.

This is something I must do one day. After all, I've lived here for 46 years. :)

[wavelandscott]

Enough other reasons are available to make fun of me besides being a "Yank" that Australian citizenship should not diminish the comedic possibilities...

With respect to the Stellar seats in the garage...as we have moved to a new house with a bigger garage the % has changed...Regardless, I much prefer to think of my garage as "half empty" of Stellar seats!

I'll now do better on the beer...I promise!

[wavelandscott]

Thanks all for the congratulations and well wishes...

I've been in Australia approaching 6 years...this is the "home country" my children know and identify with...

While not perfect, Australia is a good place to be, raise a family and carve out a decent living...democratic, free speech allowing and at the same time is still a place where hard work (and a little luck) can be rewarded.

Oh, and the people are warm and inviting...yep, I reckon it is a pretty good place to "hang our hats".

Cheers All!

[ballaratdragons]

Onya Scott,

Congratulations on becoming Oz! Hope ya gonna celebrate with a 'Barbie'. Gotta start out on the right foot. :thumbsup:

[Ric]

Hi Scott, congratulations to you and your family.
I reckon you couldn't pick a better country to settle in.
Sun, Surf, meatpies and BBQ's, way to go.

Cheers mate

[gary]

Congratulations Scott to you and your family! :welcome:



There's also the old joke about where we look for the scars under your hair
for where they did the operation. :lol: We'll check how they are healing the
next time we see you up at Kulnura. :thumbsup:

Seriously, congratulations mate!

Best Regards

Gary

[GTB_an_Owl]

more room in the garage you say!

decisions - decisions...................

couple of beer fridges - or another container of stellar seats ?

bet that's a tough one Scott

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tamtarn]

Congrats Scott and your family on becoming Aussies today. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[wavelandscott]

The more important question is did they put stuff in or take stuff out? :shrug:

In a related comment that a "friend" (and I use the term in the most loose way possible) made..."Your decision and move has reaised the average IQ bth places" :whistle: ...

Thanks all for the warm welcome...We do live in "the lucky country"...

[wavelandscott]

It is not a hard decision at all...just need to make sure my garage wiring is up to powering those fridges...

[Rodstar]

Great to have you as one of US now, Scott!

Welcome to the party. Pavlova?

[h0ughy]

congrats to you and all the family

[xelasnave]

May I add my congratualations
alex

[Gargoyle_Steve]

Congrats Scott, and congrats to Matt too.

Bloody ripper of youse new dinkum aussie blokes (and blokettes in the family) to jump right in and join the best dingo-breeding, pie eating, surf swimming, beer swilling, cricket playing, sun burnt country around!

AND ..... we just happen to have the BEST skies too!

Cheers!

[DSO]

You LUCKY *******, Scott!!! Congatulations and enjoy it.

I'm coming back to Aus next year and am already working on how not to return to the UK...

[Dujon]

Come in a leaky boat, DSO. Claim persecution under the current UK government, learn a bit of Strine and you're in, maaaoite.

I've lived here for 50+ years but am still a 'permanent resident'. One of these days I'll save up enough to pay for the privilege (for those of you who don't know it costs quite a few bob), travel a couple of hours to get to the interview and then wonder why I bothered. ;)

[dugnsuz]

Congratulations
Doug

[CoombellKid]

Yes congrat to the new Australians...

Been here nearly 20 years myself, have two sons. I've been thinking about
doing the deed myself for sometime now.

regards,CS

[matt]

Thanks Steve. All of the above are very true:lol:

I'll be as proud as all get-out when I've finally got that bit of paper.

For me it'll simply be an official and public declaration of my commitment to and affection for this country and what it represents.

I want to be counted among its number.

[Dujon]

Err, sorry, I missed a bit off my earlier post. :scared3:

Congratulations to all with the new or pending citizenship. Well done. :cheers:

[ving]

welcome neighbor :)