More than a thousand new citizens will call Australia home after two special ceremonies held by the City of Canterbury Bankstown.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek will tomorrow welcome 1,050 new Aussies, from more than 60 different countries, at the Highline Venue, Bankstown, on Wednesday 21 February.
Among them will be Nigerian-born Titilade Adedeji, her husband and three children, who migrated to Australia in 2016.
Mrs Adedeji travelled to Australia to further her studies in communications and to seek better opportunities for her young family. The family initially lived in Petersham, before moving to Bankstown in 2017.
“I was studying at the Tafe in Bankstown and I brought my kids to the library. We fell in love with the people and community and we really wanted to live here,” Mrs Adedeji said.
“The kids love it here and they don’t want to leave. We now have friends that have turned to family here.
“Just last year, we bought a place in Bankstown.”
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said welcoming in the City’s newest Australians is his favourite part of the job.
“With each new citizen, the City is richer and stronger,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
“I look forward to seeing the individual and collective contributions they each make to our City.”
Mrs Adedeji has since changed career paths and is studying a Bachelor of Nursing. She hopes to contribute to the Australian community by helping others.
“Now I am really doing what I love,” she said.
“At the end of this year I am going to become a registered nurse, which is what I love doing.”
The Adedeji family are overjoyed to become Aussies together at the ceremony, and they will be joined by their special family friends who will witness their “historic” moment.
“It’s a great privilege to become a citizen here! Now I don’t have to worry about my kid’s future – they will have a great future with great opportunities,” Mrs Adedeji said.
Mrs Adedeji’s eldest daughter, 13-year-old Amy, has her sights set on becoming a doctor.
“I can do anything here, there are so many roads I can take to get to where I want,” Amy said.
“Being Australian means being part of a community where you are supported no matter your culture, opinions or religion… some countries don’t have that.”