Almost 100 Goulburn Valley residents became Australian citizens on Friday, December 17, after a wait of several years.
One of the residents who took the pledge and finally became an Australian citizen was Iraq-born Walid Jallo.
“It’s exciting. You feel excitement to become an official member of society,” Mr Jallo said.
“It feels great.”
Mr Jallo, 75, migrated from Iraq to be closer to his sons and grandchildren.
“My sons all immigrated to Australia over 10 years ago and I came with my wife to join them,” he said.
“My family, my sons came here to work, and I wanted to join them.
“Even though I’m 75, I never thought to not become a citizen.
“I’m living in Australia so it’s normal for me to want to officially become an Australian.”
Mr Jallo first came to Australia in the 1980s for a visit and said he liked the place and could see himself moving one day.
Aumalaga Lalogafau was another who took the citizenship pledge on Friday.
“I’ve waited five years for my citizenship. Process was good, but it’s very long,” she said.
Ms Lalogafau met her husband, Jody, in Australia after moving in 2016, prompting her to become a citizen.
“I became a citizen because of my son and my husband,” Ms Lalogafau said.
“My family still lives in Samoa, but I wanted to be in Australia because Australia always has your back.
“If you go somewhere and Corona hits and you get stuck there, Australia is going to help you and that’s why I want to stay here.
“I’m just so happy to finally become a citizen. It feels so good.”