I was proud to join Adam Shultz, Lake Macquarie Mayor and Jodie Harrison MP, Member for Charlestown, to welcome Lake Macquarie’s newest citizens this morning.

People from all over the world love Lake Macquarie and some of them choose to make this wonderful city their home. It’s amazing to hear people’s stories and talk to them about how much they love being in Australia.

I spoke with Hai Nguyen from Vietnam, who was supported by her family this morning as she finally became a citizen after 20 years of calling Australia home.

Ajesh has come to Lake Macquarie from Pakistan in the hopes of working in construction in our rapidly growing region.

I also stopped to chat with an old friend, Craig, from Scotland, who has called Australia home for a long time. I met Craig in 2008 when I accompanied a contingent of young athletes to attend the international children’s games in San Francisco. Craig has been active in the local community for many years through his involvement with Probus.

Welcome home to our newest Australians! May your lives here be enriched by the community, and may the community be enriched by your culture and contribution to our diverse and multicultural society we cherish.