Published Sunday, 12 October, 2008 at 06:00 AM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Queensland welcomes new Australian citizens
Queensland’s cultural diversity continues to grow with more than 100 migrants becoming Australian citizens at an official ceremony in Brisbane today (Sunday).
Multicultural Affairs Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the new citizens would be welcomed at the special citizenship ceremony being held as part of today’s Multicultural Festival at Roma Street Parkland.
“Including the citizenship ceremony in the festival is quite symbolic because we are embracing our new citizens while celebrating the rich cultural heritage and diversity that is such a wonderful feature of Queensland today,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It’s a great privilege to welcome new citizens from a host of different countries, including Egypt, Poland, Vietnam, Ukraine, Eritrea and Liberia,” she said.
“As Queenslanders and Australians, we take pride in our rich cultural diversity and I am delighted these individuals from so many different countries are becoming official citizens.”
Welcoming the citizens today, Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said being an Australian means different things to different people.
“For some, it means a peaceful country where they can raise their children, while for others it means immense opportunity,” she said.
“Regardless, being Australian is something that unites us, a people of great diversity, and we should be very proud of that.”
The youngest recipient of Australian citizenship at the Queensland Multicultural Festival ceremony today will be three-year-old Vrisan Brahmbhatt.
Vrisan will receive his citizenship alongside his parents Ashish and Diptiben. The family immigrated to Australia from India when Vrisan was only a baby to pursue studies and other opportunities.
Mr Ashish Brahmbhatt said the family was proud, happy and excited to become Australian citizens.
“Becoming Australian means to be part of mainstream Australia, to share the vision and aspirations of the people, to appreciate the democratic values and freedom, to celebrate the Australian way of life everyday and to respect the spirit of the people,” he said.
“We made Australia our home because of the freedom, progressive ideology, equal opportunity, openness, mutual respect and honesty of the people, career prospects and of course the true colours of multiculturalism that are valued by most of the people who live here.”
The citizenship ceremony will be held from 10am to 11am on the QUT Community Dance Stage.
More than 120 different acts and activities will form part of this year’s action-packed Queensland Multicultural Festival program, which features something for everyone, including music, dance, literature, theatre, football, art, traditional and contemporary cultural activities.
Roma Street Parkland will come alive with five stages pumping out live entertainment and another five precincts dedicated to such activities as cooking demonstrations, Shakespeare, puppetry, art, music and dance.
Queensland Roar FC players will also be signing autographs and sharing tricks of the trade onsite at the Lakes Lawn precinct as part of the Queensland Government’s partnership with the club which is behind the Queensland Roars Against Racism campaign.
This year’s highlights also include headline performances by Brisbane’s own Katie Noonan – our 2009 Multicultural Champion, and renowned Blues-Indian fusion artist Harry Manx from Canada.
Roma Street Parkland activities run from 10am to 8pm and entry is free. All are welcome to attend and public transport is recommended.
The 2008 Queensland Multicultural Festival is supported by major sponsors Queensland University of Technology, Network Ten, Translink, OurBrisbane.com, and Roma Street Parkland.
To find out more about the event or for details about the festival program, visit www.multicultural.qld.gov.au
Media Contacts: Harry Landman 0407 637 510
Multicultural Affairs Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the new citizens would be welcomed at the special citizenship ceremony being held as part of today’s Multicultural Festival at Roma Street Parkland.
“Including the citizenship ceremony in the festival is quite symbolic because we are embracing our new citizens while celebrating the rich cultural heritage and diversity that is such a wonderful feature of Queensland today,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It’s a great privilege to welcome new citizens from a host of different countries, including Egypt, Poland, Vietnam, Ukraine, Eritrea and Liberia,” she said.
“As Queenslanders and Australians, we take pride in our rich cultural diversity and I am delighted these individuals from so many different countries are becoming official citizens.”
Welcoming the citizens today, Member for Brisbane Central Grace Grace said being an Australian means different things to different people.
“For some, it means a peaceful country where they can raise their children, while for others it means immense opportunity,” she said.
“Regardless, being Australian is something that unites us, a people of great diversity, and we should be very proud of that.”
The youngest recipient of Australian citizenship at the Queensland Multicultural Festival ceremony today will be three-year-old Vrisan Brahmbhatt.
Vrisan will receive his citizenship alongside his parents Ashish and Diptiben. The family immigrated to Australia from India when Vrisan was only a baby to pursue studies and other opportunities.
Mr Ashish Brahmbhatt said the family was proud, happy and excited to become Australian citizens.
“Becoming Australian means to be part of mainstream Australia, to share the vision and aspirations of the people, to appreciate the democratic values and freedom, to celebrate the Australian way of life everyday and to respect the spirit of the people,” he said.
“We made Australia our home because of the freedom, progressive ideology, equal opportunity, openness, mutual respect and honesty of the people, career prospects and of course the true colours of multiculturalism that are valued by most of the people who live here.”
The citizenship ceremony will be held from 10am to 11am on the QUT Community Dance Stage.
More than 120 different acts and activities will form part of this year’s action-packed Queensland Multicultural Festival program, which features something for everyone, including music, dance, literature, theatre, football, art, traditional and contemporary cultural activities.
Roma Street Parkland will come alive with five stages pumping out live entertainment and another five precincts dedicated to such activities as cooking demonstrations, Shakespeare, puppetry, art, music and dance.
Queensland Roar FC players will also be signing autographs and sharing tricks of the trade onsite at the Lakes Lawn precinct as part of the Queensland Government’s partnership with the club which is behind the Queensland Roars Against Racism campaign.
This year’s highlights also include headline performances by Brisbane’s own Katie Noonan – our 2009 Multicultural Champion, and renowned Blues-Indian fusion artist Harry Manx from Canada.
Roma Street Parkland activities run from 10am to 8pm and entry is free. All are welcome to attend and public transport is recommended.
The 2008 Queensland Multicultural Festival is supported by major sponsors Queensland University of Technology, Network Ten, Translink, OurBrisbane.com, and Roma Street Parkland.
To find out more about the event or for details about the festival program, visit www.multicultural.qld.gov.au
Media Contacts: Harry Landman 0407 637 510