Jeremy and Lisa Tomlinson were among the 17 people conferred Australian citizenship on Wednesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The couple moved to Nelson Bay from Canada six years ago and welcomed their son – now also an Australian citizen – into the world on Australia Day, 2016.
While Jeremy, an engineer, and Lisa, a physiotherapist, have adapted to life downunder, there’s one thing still not to their taste. Vegemite.
“Xander likes it, he has it at daycare,” Jeremy said. “I think you have to be Australian born.”
The pair had previously been introduced to the yeast-based spread on the Canadian ski fields by some cheeky Aussies who spread it over toast. Nice and thick.
“We still don’t like it,” Lisa said.
“But at least we have learned how to eat it since being here.”
Breakfast spreads aside Lisa and Jeremy said there were clear benefits to living in Australia. The climate a big one.
“We’re from the Prairies of Canada and they’ve had 171 days of minus temperatures,” Lisa said.
Jeremy added: “We came here looking for better weather. Our first impression was ‘it’s hot and humid’ because we came here in November”.
Lisa had work lined up already in Nelson Bay. And they haven’t budged since.
“When we first came here we thought we might move around but we haven’t,” she said.
Jeremy found work with the council on its playground and skate park projects.
Last year, as soon as they were eligible, they bought a house at the Bay.
“We really like it here,” Lisa said.
“The whole work-life balance is a lot better.”
Jeremy said it was reflective of the culture.
“The Aussies value their time away from work a lot more,” he said.
“They do have a culture. It might be an offshoot of the UK but it is unique.”
He said this put Australia in an enviable position when comparing the Commonwealth nations.
“With Canada sharing a boarder with the US, the culture is being overwhelmed to put it politely,” he said.
“I don’t want to offend my Canadian countrymen but the identity is being lost.”
The mayor of Port Stephens Ryan Palmer presided over the ceremony at the council chambers in Raymond Terrace on Wednesday. Patterson MP Meryl Swanson was also there to congratulate the new citizens.
The 17 new citizens came from the United Kingdom, United States, Philippines, India, South Africa and Canada.
