New citizens take their oath – online

Published on 18 October 2021

It was a first for Moira Shire Council, hosting the official Australian Citizenship Ceremony online via Zoom and live-streamed through Council’s Facebook page on Thursday 14 October.

Mayor Libro Mustica officiated the ceremony and Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum was the special guest speaker.

“It was a proud and significant moment for the new citizens who now reside in towns throughout our whole shire,” Cr Mustica said.

“Having the ceremony performed online was certainly a unique experience for us all, but it was also special for each conferee’s extended family who were able to watch from the comfort of their homes.

“The excitement once the oath was taken was palpable with cheers erupting and even the traditional Aussie chant – ‘Aussie, Aussie Aussie, oi, oi, oi’.”

Cr Mustica said hailing originally from Countries including New Zealand, India, Thailand, Yugoslavia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and Britain these new citizens had already become integral members of the local towns and were active members of their communities.

“Officiating citizenship ceremonies is one of the proudest jobs I have as Mayor and like these new citizens, I was born overseas and migrated to Australia with my family,” he said.

“Through our Australian citizenship we all share a commitment to values including mutual respect, equality, freedom of speech and religion, the rule of law, and democracy.

“Our citizenship means we all belong to the Australian family and we can all enjoy the responsibilities and privileges of living in this country and having a say in its future.”

To watch the ceremony in full please follow this link

Online Ceremony Video