Jeez, you forgot the beer

You could get deported for that

Good !!!



Thats one offence I'd never get deported for

me neither

Congrats Penny

Good work! Don't worry about the ceremony though, it's not like you have to go up front and sing the anthem on your own or anything. We really enjoyed the ceremony and will always remember the day

Well make sure you tell me when it is mate

Just how we felt, our ceremony was really cringy with all the mutual back slapping.

Penny ours was quite big but we didn't have to go up the front we all read the pledge in unison we were citizens in around 30 seconds, we then had to listen to speeches. Right at the end everyone went up to the front to collect their certificates, just before this happened somebody turned up late said their pledge got their certificate and were in and out in 5 minutes(we had been there over an hour as instructed to arrive 40 minutes early). You could always try doing that, we wished we had

I know not everybody wants to be an Australian citizen and to some degree are forced to take out citizenship due to applying for certain jobs or if you want to leave Aus and return at a later stage or if you want the same as your kids etc ; but I wonder how anyone would feel if some of these things were said about UK citizenship? I wonder how anyone would feel if someone come to UK from another country, took out citizenship and didn't want to embrace it?

If you chose to take out citizenship then surely you want to become a citizen which means embracing the country of your choice, for the good and bad. It can't hurt to attend a simple ceremony and I can understand Australia wanting to make a "do" of it. How many people would love to get the same opportunity? This should surely be seen as a privilege and not an entitlement

I understand it's not for everyone and it is a personal choice but I just know if someone took out UK citizenship and didn't care two hoots, I think "the country" and its people might be offended

Take a couple of hours out of your life and say "thank you" to Australia for having you. Some things can be shitty here but there's a hell of a lot to be thankful for. You might even find you'll enjoy this special day

You've picked on some great points there, and I tend to agree with all of it. It's especially interesting comparing us getting Aussie citizenship with 'foreigners' getting UK citizenship. It has always been much tougher to get UK citizenship and yet people still complain about immigrants, then come here and want it easy! Like I said, we really enjoyed our ceremony. Even though we were with about 40 others on the day and didn't have to get up and stand out at the front (except when collecting the actual certificate), it really did feel like our special day.

I took out Australian citizenship a) because I could b) because I feel that this is the place for me and I'm happy to embrace all (most ) things Australian, and c) the other things you mentioned regarding travel, job opportunities, etc.

Cheers

I know not everyone likes parties or functions. I bloody hate them in fact I hate any fuss about anything, but I figured it was my way of saying thank you to a country I'm proud to live in - even if I see its faults.

I agree with you. It's a special day

I do take your points on board, and actually hope that once I am a citizen it will make me feel more at home and more part of the country. The job (if I get it) will be a major commitment to helping with the safety of the State and the country, and I'll be very proud to be doing it.

But I just don't see why I have to go to a big ceremony, look like I'm enjoying myself, and watch big family parties having fun. Call me selfish if you like but as I'll be billy-no-mates there on my own I'd just rather keep it very low key!

Polly, The citizensip thing didn't make me suddenly feel I belonged here or that OZ was home. The old saying 'home is where the heart is, I think has more than a grain of truth in it.

You don't have to attend a big citizenship ceremony, I didn't. You just contact your local council/shire and ask about a private one that the Mayor will officiate. Just you and him/her and maybe your OH and a friend or two if you like.

I did think I was clutching at straws! The eternal hope that one day I'll feel at home here....

AS for the private stuff, being in Brisbane I very much doubt they'll do it - Moneypen has asked her local one and got a flat No. Brisbane being an even bigger area I'm not hopeful, though I'll give it a try.

Good to see you back by the way, hows life treating you?

I take your points and agree. I am very keen on taking citizenship and becoming an Aussie. My husband and girls are already. I have no intention of living anywhere else and love the country. I just happen to be a fairly shy person in real life and my idea of hell is standing up in front of people and having to say or do anything, it's just the way I've always been and when working always managed to get out of presenting reports etc. If I have to do it I will, but I'd rather not and that doesn't take anything away from the country or the amount of pride I'll have being Aussie, it's just the way I am.

I'm going to wait until I get the letter offering the date and contact the council. With the best will in the world the woman who said no was a DIAC employee not a council employee so there's a fair chance she doesn't know that you can do a private one.

We only had to go to the front of the hall to collect our certificate, the rest of it was done from our seats basically. I understand you're shy but really there's nothing to worry about in the ceremony.

Having said that, we dealt with the Gold Coast office for our interview (our ceremony was pretty much around the corner from our house ) and found them to be pretty helpful. Maybe you just spoke to the 'wrong' person.