JAH Trinity - Australian News

Receiving the ultimate accolade-a citizenship certificate, can bring home just how much your life changes when you emigrate.

LAST October was the second anniversary of my arrival in Australia as a permanent resident, writes Milton Westcarr. I took the earliest opportunity to apply for citizen” ship and submitted the completed application form to the Adelaide Processing Centre. I was then given an interview to confirm my eligibility to become a citizen and paid the $120 (£50) fee. The immigration officer told me I had answered the questions correctly and would be approved as an Australian Citizen. All I would need to do was attend an official ceremony at my local council to take a pledge of allegiance.

I felt so happy that I wanted to do cartwheels in the waiting room!

There was a large smile on my face for the whole day and I found it surprising just how simple the procedure was to become a citizen. There had been an extensive campaign on TV, asking permanent residents who qualified for citizenship to apply. This resulted in a record number of applicants. The City of Salisbury managed to squeeze me onto their long list of 66 candidates for the Australia Day ceremony. This was most fortunate, as my two sons, Marcus (14) and Meshach (11), had flown over from England for their two-week holiday. As their visit coincided with the ceremony date, they were able to witness dad becoming an Aussie!!

The ceremony took place at 11am on Australia Day 26 th January 2002, in the plush council offices. We took our seats in the packed hall along with the other candidates. The civic dignitaries, such as the mayor in his red gown and chain, gave speeches, welcoming us as new Australians. We were asked to step forward in groups and to either say a pledge of affirmation, or to swear an oath of loyalty to Australia and its people, depending on which option we had chosen in the application form. We were then presented with our coveted certificate of Australian Citizenship -at last!! Meshach took a photo of me holding mine.

The function lasted for just over an hour and included drinks and nibbles. I was congratulated by some council staff members, who recognised me because I regularly service their high volume photocopier in the printroom. Small world!

Another strange coincidence was that precisely three years previously, on January 26 th 1999, I'd sent off my permanent resident application form! It's peculiar I have become an Australian Citizen on the same date -“jackpot”, as we say over here!

My sons sat through the ceremony and had a wonderful holiday travelling to different beaches every day (in S.A) and swimming in the sea for the first time. They even got sunburnt!

Straight after the ceremony, we flew to Sydney for four days and stayed with friends who took us to several beaches, including Cogee and Bronte which had massive tidal waves - it was perfect for surfing and body-boarding.

We walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge twice, much to my sons' disgust! And saw an ocean- liner pass underneath, which we thought, was going to bump into the bridge! We returned to Adelaide and I gave them a guided tour of the Migration and South Australian Museums, which are filled, with a considerable amount of fascinating artefacts and exhibitions.

On the last day of their holiday, I cried buckets of tears as we said goodbye at the airport. I watched the large Qantas plane take off, bound for Darwin, Singapore and finally, London. This was the saddest day yet for me in Australia and I couldn't bear going home to my large lonely house, where my children were playing only three hours earlier. I cried a lot that day and it made me realise just how much of a sacrifice we make when we emigrate to another country. I deeply miss my children and felt homesick for the first time in two and a half years. These feelings eased off within a couple of days and I am planning to return to the UK for two weeks some time this year.

Government Statistics show that up to 20% of all migrants return home to live within 18 months of emigrating, and this is usually a direct result of feeling homesick. It really is a powerful force, which can upset even the best, laid plans and SHOULD NEVER be under estimated. Any would-be migrants must remember that there will be some sad and tough days in Oz, as well as the sun and surf.

However, I would suggest to any would-be migrants to wait two years before you decide to give up and return home, because you will be more settled and will have at least made a balanced decision. Also it would be wise to become a Citizen before you leave the country, as it carries a higher status than a permanent resident. An Australian Citizen has the same rights and privileges as someone born in the country.