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.