Fifty-six people from across the globe were officially welcomed as Australian citizens at a Scenic Rim Regional Council ceremony on Friday April 10.
Mayor Tom Sharp said the ceremony represented “a milestone in the journey from immigrant to Australian citizen,” with participants making a public pledge of commitment to Australia and its people.
The Scenic Rim has welcomed new citizens from 50 countries since 2018.
Mayor Sharp said citizenship was a shared bond that united Australians while recognising their diversity.
“We cherish the values of respect, freedom and equality before the law,” he said.
“Citizenship is a bond which unites us all.”
Among those recognised on the day was Tamborine Mountain resident Sarah Miles, who attended the ceremony alongside her daughter Caitlin.
Originally born in New Zealand, Sarah has spent much of her life moving between countries, including Papua New Guinea and Australia, before settling in south-east Queensland for work.
“I’ve been in Australia since I was 18 months old, on and off,” she said.
“I’ve gone from Port Moresby, my parents then moved to Cairns and then later back to New Zealand for school and now as an adult I’ve settled at Tamborine Mountain.”
Sarah said Tamborine Mountain had become a natural place to call home due to both its location and lifestyle.
“Tamborine Mountain is just a perfect spot,” she said.
“It’s kind of halfway for me because I work between a number of airports, from Brisbane down to Ballina and Byron.”
She described the region as unique, highlighting both its natural beauty and strong sense of community.
“It’s its own microclimate, it’s stunning,” she said.
“The community is beautiful, and you literally get to wake up in the clouds.”
Sarah also expressed pride in being part of the Scenic Rim.
“I am genuinely very proud to live in the Scenic Rim area,” she said.
“People always ask if I live on the Gold Coast, and I say, ‘No, I live in the Scenic Rim.’”
