Extending a huge g’day to our newest Aussies

Citizenship ceremony

Shaun Hollis

Senior Journalist

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Wendy Lang, Mayra Fairlie, new citizen Belen Bianchini, Beau Guthridge, Khairatun Nisa, Sofia Ferrari and Anaclara Bazan celebrated Belen’s citizenship in Port Douglas on Friday night. Picture: Shaun Hollis

Douglas Shire has welcomed 17 new Aussie citizens to the region as part of Australia Day celebrations last weekend.

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Sworn in at a ceremony on Friday night in Port Douglas, the cohort of people were originally from a diverse range of countries across the world including New Zealand, Italy, Argentina, the UK, The Netherlands, Thailand, Argentina and Taiwan.

The citizenship ceremony was part of the Douglas Shire Council Australia Day Awards night, where local volunteer and educator Bev Gwynne was crowned Douglas Shire’s Citizen of the Year.

Other major award winners on the night included Forever Reef Project founder Dean Miller (Environmental Achievement Award) and recycling legend Bruce Ferguson (Senior Citizen of the Year).