Those of us who were born here take our citizenship for granted, but for those who have come to Australia from another country, becoming a citizen is a conscious decision to formalise and strengthen their bond with their adopted homeland.
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I officiated another Australian Citizenship Ceremony as Mayor at the Lake Macquarie City Council chambers last week, and the opportunity to share this special occasion with 77 people from 20 different countries was a real privilege.
Citizenship ceremonies are such happy events.
Every person's journey to citizenship is different - but all come to their ceremony with optimism, gratitude and joy.
It marks the start of a new and exciting chapter, even for those who are already long-term Australian residents.
I congratulate those who participated in last week's ceremony on not only becoming Australian citizens but also making the wise choice to live in our beautiful city of Lake Macquarie.
Our community is enriched by all who come here from other lands and cultures.
Home to excitement
Our events calendar just took it up a notch this week with the announcement of the fourth round of the 2020 BMX Australia National Series coming to Lake Macquarie.
Making its way to the Lake Macquarie BMX Club in Argenton on August 8, 2020, this one-day spectacle features some of the country's best riders.
The BMX Australia National Series event attracts a large number of competitors, sporting enthusiasts, support staff and visitors to Lake Macquarie City, bringing benefits for small businesses and local communities.
Lake Macquarie's reputation for hosting major sports events is growing, with recent successful events including the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships, Port 2 Port mountain bike race, the Lake Mac City Pro Junior surfing contest and the Gymnastics NSW Country Championships.
We have a strong offering of active sports tourism and cultural experiences that inspire and delight.
Whatever your interest, Lake Mac is a place of excitement and adventure, and events like these are important for city tourism and economic development.
We can't wait to welcome the competitors and spectators to Lake Macquarie.
