Rochester family gains Australian citizenship before Australia Day

They were welcomed as Australian citizens alongside people from 10 other nations and surrounded by a large crowd of community members.

The ceremony, led by Campaspe Shire chief executive Pauline Gordon, featured a beautiful riverside landscape and live music.

Jason King, Samantha Vennemore and their children Axel, 15, and Braxton, 8, were among the 42 citizens who took the oath of citizenship.

Mr King and his family made the move from New Zealand to Australia in 2017.

“Our main goal was to get to Victoria,” Mr King said.

For about three years, the family has called Rochester home after living in NSW and other areas in Victoria.

Mr King said a job opportunity in Stanhope brought him and his family to the area before they moved to Rochester.

“It’s such a great community,” he said.

Since settling in Rochester, Axel and Braxton have found their footing as they attend school and take part in Scouts and other activities.

As for Mr King, he enjoys working with the community and volunteering, having played a big role in reviving the town’s Scouts group and now as a member of the Rochester Fire Brigade.

He first tried out the Scouts group in Echuca with his youngest son, Braxton, which led him to volunteering as a parent helper and, now, a Scout leader in Rochester for the Joey section.

Mr King said that becoming Australian citizens opened the door to new opportunities for his children as they grew and built their futures in Australia.