The conferees from India, Thailand and South Africa were celebrating the final stage of their migrant journey, committing to Australia their adopted country and to the Australian values.

“People choose to come to this country, and appreciate a lot of the things that we take for granted, the fact that they want to come to Moree and raise their families here is great,” Mr Coulton said.

“It is great to meet the people who have come here, that are having a real crack.”

“They are going to be great contributors to the Moree region and to the whole country,”he said.  

Mr Coulton also read a message from Hon Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

“People of all backgrounds and religions strengthen our country and only together, united, will our future be as strong as our present and past,” he said.

The citizenship ceremony took place at the Moree Shire Plains council, Mayor Katrina Humphries asking the attendees to  take a  moment to reflect on the significance of what it means to be Australian.

 “We belong to a rich and diverse community and we should strive on this and every day, to celebrate the many people that make our country, and the Moree Plains, a great place to live and work,” she said.