News: Newest citizens welcomed
Meet five brand new Aussies who became an Australian Citizen on Australia Day
Posted: Monday, 1 February 2016
President Barb Shaw welcomed five new Australian citizens to Tennant Creek as part of a morning of celebrations at Battery Hill on Australia Day.
Miss Leah Eun Aylward
Leah was born in Korea and
adopted by Steven and Beverly Aylward when she was six months old. She grew up
in Coffs Harbour, NSW, and after finishing high school went into the
hospitality industry in Brisbane, Queensland, where she met her partner Matthew
Johnstone. The family now live in Tennant Creek and have two beautiful
children, Levi, six, and Marley, four. Leah is looking forward to
officially becoming an Australian citizen and enjoying life with her family in
this amazing country.
Mrs Gay Ebdalin Baker
Born in the
Phillipines, Gay moved to Tennant Creek after marrying her husband Richard
Baker on 19 November 2011. Just recently a new family member arrived - their
son Michael Romeo Baker who was born on 19
May 2015. Gay loves the rich tapestry of life in Australia. For Gay,
being an Australian means being mates with everyone, harbouring no ill-will
towards others, wanting to live in peace and harmony with each other and
nature, to be free and independent, to provide a helping hand when needed, and
to treat everyone fairly. Gay loves a sunburnt country and feels privileged to
be here.
Ms Cecilia Davenport and
Miss Denise Davenport
Cecilia Virtudazo Davenport and
her daughter Denise are from the Philippines and were both born in a small
place called Kandiis on the Island of Mindanou. Cecilia came to Australia to be
with her husband, Peter Davenport, and both Cecilia and her daughter spent time
here on tourist visas to see if they liked living in Tennant Creek. They loved
it, applied for a permanent visa and are now proud to gain Australian
Citizenship. Denise goes to Tennant Creek Primary and Cecilia has been working
at Tennant Creek Hospital. Cecilia recently completed her studies in aged and
disability care and hopes this will lead to a career in health. They are very
happy here in Tennant Creek and believe it will give both of them a great
future.
Mr Prabhu Maligapogu
Prabhu was born in
Mahabubnagar, in the state of Telangana, India. After gaining a post graduate
degree in social work, Prabhu moved to Australia to enhance his skills and
study further. He finished an advanced diploma in community welfare in
Melbourne, and was lucky to find a job in Tennant Creek on the second day of
his arrival. He worked at the Tennant Creek Child Care Centre and then with the
Department of Children and Families as a child protection practitioner. He is
now a social worker at the Tennant Creek Hospital. Prabhu loves Tennant Creek
and its people. This place has given him so much that he wants to give back to
the country and become a citizen of this great nation.