Mandurah gears up to welcome new citizens during Australia Day celebrations

Originally from Peru, Selene Ramirez Rodriguez is just one of 85 locals that will formally receive citizenship at Mandurah’s official ceremony. 

Attracted to the city’s cheaper house prices and lifestyle, Selene and her partner Patrick moved to Mandurah four years ago to settle down. 

The duo both agreed Mandurah was a great place to raise a family and now have two children, two-year-old Claude and four-month-old Micaela. 

Selene labelled Mandurah as “tranquil” and said she was lucky to live in the area. 

“It’s very family orientated,” she said. 

“It’s more peaceful here [compared to Perth]. Parks are just walking distance, everything is very close. It’s home now.” 

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Selene said she was “excited” to be able to receive her dual citizenship on the occasion. 

With the day fast approaching, Selene said it felt like she was finally “closing the circle”. 

While she has lived in Mandurah for four years, Selene has been in Australia for the past 12 years. 

Selene and Patrick met through work years ago. Patrick was a truck driver and Selene worked as a transport coordinator. 

Born in Bunderburg in Queensland, Patrick made a bold move out of his family home to work on a West Australian oil rig at just 19-years-old.

After working in a range of jobs since then, Patrick is now undertaking a heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeship for a company along the Kwinana industrial strip. 

He said Mandurah grabbed their attention after a weekend visit. 

“We were looking at a few different places but Mandurah really caught us. It was a good decision,” he said. 

Patrick said he was looking forward to the day and would be cheering Selene on with the children and their friends in the crowd. 

“I haven’t giving it too much thought as I’ve been very busy... but I’m happy and I’m proud that she has chosen to be an Australian citizen,” he said. 

“I’m also happy that she doesn’t have to relinquish her Peruvian citizenship at the same time. That there’s that ability for the dual citizenship.” 

This year, the City of Mandurah will formally welcome new citizen from a range of cultural backgrounds including; Ireland, Italy, UK, USA, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Brazil, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Sri Lanka and Peru.

City of Mandurah deputy mayor Caroline Knight said Australia Day was a time of celebration.

“Welcoming new Australian’s to our beautiful city is a real honour and a privilege,” Ms Knight said.

“I encourage our local community to join in the festivities on the eastern foreshore.”

This year’s Australia Day Ambassador, who will be speaking at the ceremony, is Jeffrey Effendi. Jeffery is a Social Entrepreneur and Humanitarian and is the 2018 WA Young Australian of the Year Finalist.

Born in Jakarta, Mr Effendi was just seven when his family, who are Chinese-Indonesian, fled the country’s mass race riots. 

The experience left him with a deep understanding that stories can change the lens in which people are perceived in society.

As the founder of DrawHistory, Mr Effendi has helped over 100 not-for-profits and social ventures tell their stories by activating social brands and campaigns that rally people and funding to important causes.

This year in Pinjarra, there will be no new citizens pledge their allegiance on Australia Day.

Australian citizenship came into effect on January 26, 1949, through the Nationality and Citizenship Act 1948.

Before this Australians held the status of British subjects. 

The first citizenship ceremony was held at the Albert Hall in Canberra.

Follow Caitlyn Rintoul on Twitter via @caitlynrintoul.