Bourke welcomes ten new citizens

New Australian citizens – Rana Awais Ahmad, Kynat Waheed, Abdul Waheed, Malika Waheed, Ejaz Ul Haq, Mohammad Abram Rana Waheed (front), Javairaia Latif, Sangita Prajapati, Harmeet Singh, Amandeep Kaur and Harveen Kaur. Photo TWH

At a time when population is decreasing in most country towns, Bourke had the privilege of welcoming ten new Australian citizens on Australia Day.

These new Aussies, from Nepal, India, and Pakistan, became Australian citizens as part of a ceremony at the new Darling Park amphitheatre. Sangita Prajapati, Harmeet Singh, Harveen Coor, Abdul Waheed, Rana Awais Ahmad, Mohammad Abram Rana Waheed, Kynat Waheed, Milika Waheed, Ejaz Ul Haq and Javairaia Latif all took the oath to become citizens of Australia.

They have all come to Bourke to take up jobs in town or are children of those who have come for work.

The new citizens all expressed their appreciation of the welcome they had received in Bourke, and they all expressed delight at becoming Australian citizens.

Sangita Prajapati, originally from Nepal, said that she had arrived in Australia 12 years ago, and she thanked Phillip Parnaby for bringing her to Bourke in 2016 to work at Diggers on the Darling.

“I have spent 12 years fighting to gain Australian citizenship and the day is finally here, I am so happy,” Sangita said.

Harmeet Singh, from India, said he was proud to become part of the Bourke and Australian community, and Ejaz Ul Haq formerly of Pakistan spoke of how he had enjoyed his four years of work in Bourke.

Read more local news in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

To subscribe call (02) 6872 2333 today and receive The Western Herald in your letterbox next week!