The Jennings family, originally from the United Kingdom, have called Australia home for five years.
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Since making the move for sunnier skies Guy and Julie and their three sons, Mason, aged 20, Morton, 17, and Warwick, 15, have immersed themselves into the Port Stephens community.
All are active members of the Fingal Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and Mrs Jennings is heavily involved with Port Stephens Koalas.
On Monday the family of five made it official and became Australian citizens.
“I’ve travelled all over the world,” Mr Jennings said. “Australia is the only country outside of the UK that I’ve felt truly comfortable in. We love it here, love Australian life.”
Port Stephens councillor Sarah Smith presented the Jennings family their citizenship certificates.
For Cr Smith, the moment was extra special. She was one of the first friends the Jennings family made when they arrived in Port Stephens.
A total of 27 men, women and children native to the UK, US, Cyprus, India, Thailand, South Africa and the Philippines took the Australian citizenship oath or affirmation in the Raymond Terrace council chambers on Monday morning.
Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer led the citizenship ceremony, and was helped by the council’s general manager, Wayne Wallis, when it came time to present each new Australian with their citizenship certificate.
Piyanuch Silapranimith, originally from Thailand, has lived in Australia for 18 years.
Better known as Mod, and the owner of Mod Thai in Nelson Bay, Ms Silapranimith said she felt that it was finally time to cement her life in Australia, and took the steps to becoming a citizen.
In a humorous end to the citizenship ceremony, Ms Silapranimith and Cr Palmer posed for a ‘selfie’ together after she was presented with her certificate.
Spiros Andrea, native to Cyprus, embraced Cr Palmer when he was presented his certificate. He was snapped in a photo with the mayor holding up a green and yellow Australian flag.
Cr Palmer said leading Australian citizenship ceremonies was one of his favourite duties as mayor.
Other dignitaries that attended Monday morning’s ceremony included Port Stephens MP Kate Washington, Liberal state candidate Jaimie Abbott and Giacomo Arnott who was representing Paterson MP Meryl Swanson.