MEDIA ALERT

16 September 2013

MELBOURNE ON TOP FOR AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP DAY

Melbourne will tomorrow host the largest citizenship ceremony as part of celebrations for Australian Citizenship Day 2013. Five hundred conferees from 48 countries will join the Australian family at two linked ceremonies at South Morang, conducted by the City of Whittlesea and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. It will also be Whittleseas largest Australian Citizenship Day ceremony and may well see the most citizens conferred in this local government area in a single day. The oldest conferee, a UK national, 86, living in Australia for 45 years, recently realised citizenship is not automatic over time. The youngest conferee, an Indian national, is two. Three conferees from Kenya, Sri Lanka and Ghana will also celebrate their birthdays by becoming Australian citizens. Elsewhere in Victoria, about 170 conferees will take the pledge at eight ceremonies in Ballarat, Bendigo and Warrnambool and the Shires of Colac Otway, East Gippsland, Glenelg, Mansfield and Mornington Peninsula.

DETAILS: Date and time: Venue: 17 September 2013 (ceremonies at 10am and 1pm) Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre, Ferres Blvd, South Morang (City of Whittlesea). Pictures/vision of conferees, many in traditional dress.

Media opportunities:

MEDIA CONTACT: DIAC National Communications: 0401 335 356 or 03 9235 3480