AUSTRALIA Day celebrations will be extra special for 102-year-old Netty Braunstein who will take a citizenship pledge after living in Mandurah as a permanent resident for 10 years.
Speaking four languages and living in three major cities around the world Ms Braunstein said she was happy to be living with her grandson Daniel Kasher and son-in-law Ido Kasher.
Leaving the city of Haifa, Israel, in 2007 Ms Braunstein said the journey to Perth was long, travelling through Bangkok and Sydney.
Ms Braunstein spent her childhood in Paris after being born in Romania in 1913.
After 12 years in Paris she moved with her family back to Romania until the early 1960’s when she moved with her daughter and husband to Israel.
Despite her age Ms Braunstein was still willing to learn a new language, make new friends and take on a different culture.
“I don’t like big celebrations which is why I would prefer to have a private meeting after the big one on Australia Day,” she said.
Ms Braunstein said it wasn’t a gift to live so long but she was happy to spend her days in Mandurah.
On January 26 the City of Mandurah will host the citizenship awards ceremony as part of the Big Aussie Breakfast event run by the Lions Club.
The festivities start from 7am on the Mandurah foreshore and finish with a flotilla of boats on the estuary, who compete for the coveted Best Dressed title, awarded by mayor Marina Vergone.
There are no fireworks in Mandurah on Australia Day.
