When the Rotary Club of Mitchelton Qld. hosted its first Australian Citizenship ceremony in 2006, sixteen new Australians gained citizenship. Buoyed by the success of the event, the club started planning early for a similar, but larger, event in 2007. Rotarian Kerri Nixon took charge, liaising with government departments, the local authority and business organisations. Paying attention to detail, Kerri worked tirelessly for months leaving nothing to chance.

Working through the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, invitations were sent out by the club to a total of twenty-eight new citizens all of whom attended the ceremony on 26 January 2007. These new citizens came from eighteen different nations throughout the world.

 The ceremony was held in the Mitchelton & District Senior Citizens Centre built by the Rotary Club in 1979. Ann Bennison, Brisbane City Councillor for Enoggera Ward, presided at the ceremony. Augustino Lako, a locally based liaison police officer spoke on behalf of the traditional owners of the land. Senator Andrew Bartlett and the Hon. Arch Bevis, MP Brisbane, represented the Australian government. Senator Bartlett and Mitchelton Rotary President Brian Basson formally welcomed candidates and guests. 

A very talented Prime of Life Choir entertained the gathering with songs of national significance as part of the ceremony. One of its members, Kate Marsh, formerly from England also received her Australian citizenship. 

Following the taking of the Oath / Affirmation, the presiding officer presented each of the candidates with a Certificate of Australian Citizenship, a sample bag of Australiana provided by the Rotary Club, and an Australian tree, a gift from Brisbane City Council. 

On behalf of the recipients, Kristjana Sigurdardottir, formerly from Iceland, responded to the welcome and granting of Australian citizenship. 

Following the formal part of the ceremony, 160 guests joined with the Rotary Club for morning tea. The photograph shows two of our new Australian citizens Knud Melchiorsen, formerly from Denmark, and Michael Huang, from Taiwan, surrounded by family and friends, some of whom travelled from as far away as Perth for the event.

The Rotary Club of Mitchelton celebrates its fortieth anniversary of service to the community on 10^th April this year.