More than a dozen Gunnedah residents were officially welcomed as new Australian citizens during a patriotic ceremony at The Civic.
Among them was Marinus Abraham Jacobus de Wilde from the Netherlands accompanied by and his wife, Suzanna, from Slovenia.
The couple met “while hiking in New Zealand” where Marinus had lived for more than two decades.
Suzanna lived in Melbourne at the time but became “lost” while exploring the Kiwi wilderness.
Marinus, who serendipitously was also trekking in the area, came across the walkers and was able to provide safe passage home.
The rest, as they say, is history.
For some years later, the couple based themselves in Melbourne but became disillusioned by the “very strict” COVID restrictions enforced in Victoria.
To escape the metropolitan limits, the pair moved north as Marinus’ son was already in Gunnedah for work.
The new Australian citizen enjoyed being closer to family and best of all – minimal traffic.
“It is a small town but everything we need is available here,” Marinus said.
“Plus, there is only one traffic light.”
Also becoming a new Australian citizen last week was Jenneza Canoy Hickman – one of three Gunnedah residents from the Philippines to be recognised at last week’s citizenship ceremony.
Jenneza moved to Gunnedah about 10 years ago from an area in the Philippines with similar rural characteristics. She said the small town feel of Gunnedah and its people meant it “feels just like home” in her newly adopted country.
Now with two sons in tow, Zac (3) and BJ (7), Jenneza’s Filipino community is now almost 200-strong in Gunnedah.
Such is the growing Filipino influence, members have formed their own sub-committee within the Gunnedah multicultural association and regularly host celebrations like “Christmas parties and bingo” events in town.
“We love it here,” Jenneza said.
Another enjoying Gunnedah’s more relaxed lifestyle is new Australian citizen, Muhammad Hashin Siddiqui.
Originally from Pakistan, the project engineer said his home city of Karachi features more people than Australia’s entire population.
Muhammad moved to Gunnedah for work about 12 months ago after “six years and 12 different houses” via Melbourne and Sydney.
He was joined at the citizenship ceremony by his wife, Hiba, who travelled from Pakistan solely for the Gunnedah event. The couple is expecting a child and Hiba also expressed a desire to become an Australian citizen in the future.
Muhammad enjoys the “peaceful and calm” feel of Gunnedah and was looking to reacquaint with familiar sports such as badminton and cricket.
During a brief ceremony at The Civic, the new Australian citizens were congratulated by guest speakers including federal MP Mark Coulton and state MP Kevin Anderson. Both spoke about the fortuitous position we enjoy as Australians.
“We are lucky for our way of life and the freedoms that are so rare in the world today,” Mr Anderson said.
He also extended a welcome to the new citizens in Gunnedah.
“We are proud for you to join our families … we learn from you, your cultures and we’re better for it,” he added.
