deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

Australian Citizenship Day is celebrated each year on 17 September. Managed by the Australian Department of Home Affairs, Australian Citizenship Day is an opportunity for all Australian citizens, whether by birth or by choice, to reflect on the meaning and importance of their citizenship. The day is used as an opportunity to think about what unites all Australians, to take pride in Australia’s democratic values and to celebrate the role citizens play in shaping the nation.

All persons born in Australia before 20 August 1986 were automatically citizens at birth regardless of the nationalities of their parents. Individuals born in the country after that date receive Australian citizenship at birth if at least one of their parents is an Australian citizen or permanent resident. Children born in Australia to New Zealand citizens since 1 July 2022 also receive Australian citizenship at birth. Foreign nationals may be granted citizenship after living in the country for at least four years, holding permanent residency for one year, and showing proficiency in the English language.

Since 2001 Australia has promoted Citizenship Day by holding special citizenship ceremonies, affirmation ceremonies and other events around the country highlighting the day. Local government councils are also encouraged to hold special citizenship ceremonies. Across Australia, thousands of people become Australian citizens each year at special Australian Citizenship Day ceremonies.

Isn’t that interesting, The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), is tasked with celebrating multiculturalism.

There was a time Australia needed population so they recruited around the world, especially the U.K. Then when people from around the world realized what a great place Australia was they started coming also. So the government realized, ‘hey we are stronger with all these different people here…let’s celebrate having a multicultural society’.

Isn’t that something…celebrating differences…who would have ‘thunk it?’