There was a special family feel at the Shellharbour Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony when Kelly Martin and her three children all took the oath together on the main stage.
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The four members of the Martin family couldn’t hide their smiles and excitement for each other when they each received their citizenship certificates.
It was a big moment for Kelly Martin and her children Jordan, Kyra and Daniel who will have plenty to tell their classmates when they return to school on Thursday.
The only member of the family missing was their father who is presently overseas. His work involves considerable travel and because of that he was not eligible for citizenship yet. But he too plans to become an Aussie.
Mrs Martin said they fell in love with Shellharbour after arriving more than four years ago.
“It just have this feeling of belonging,” she said.
Mrs Martin said all getting their citizenship at the same time was pretty special. After taking the oath they each collected their certificates from Mayor Marianne Saliba individually.
“We absolutely love South Africa and it was a heart-wrenching decision to make..to come to Australia..because all our family are there. But we just wanted to give our children to have a future with more opportunities,” she said.
Children Jordyn, Kyra and Daniel all decided they wanted to get citizenship with their mum.
“It was nice to become and Australian citizen together,” Jordyn said.
And they all plan to be present for their father when he has his citizenship granted.
Kyra said Shellharbour was great because it had so many parks and beaches.
Jordyn said “I just love that you can hang out with your friends and it is just a safe place to be”.
Daniel said what he loved most about Shellharbour were all the pools he could swim in.
And fitting in with the family theme a couple from California also became citizens in Shellharbour at 8.30am on Australia Day. Zachary and Melody Muetterties were supported by a big cheer squad of family and friends from church and work. They were also joined by their nine month old baby Cora.
Mr Muetterties, of San Fransisco, said he had been in Australia for more than nine years and now felt settled. “This is home and we don’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.
Mrs Muetterties, of Washington State, said it was a good feeling receiving citizenship in front of the Shellharbour community. “We feel like we belong here. This is our home. We just wanted to commit to it.”
