The Boys Become Citizens...
Trip Start
Feb 28, 2006
1
57
125
Trip End
Aug 20, 2008
Perth,
Australia
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
The lads finally have their 2 full years as Australian Residents and after working through the citizenship process find themselves in front of a croud of some 16 different nationalities to take the 'Pledge' and become True Blue Aussies! Heh, heh, heh...
A typically Australian ceremony (ie no one really seemed to know what was going on, there was very little structure to the event and then as soon as it was all over food and beer was laid on for all to enjoy!) had us in Victoria Park Civil buildings with me and Sam watching Jason and Dougal try and recite with straight faces that they'd uphold Australian traditions and laws...
In usual fashion, the lads had originally decided to have the ceremony in Vic Park as it was the first on available and it'd mean that they could go through it all 'together.' (Aw, innit sweet?!?) but again, in usual fashion, one (Jason) went for the pledge including God and the other (Dougal) went for the pledge omitting Him.
All joking aside it was actually quite an interesting experience with so many different nationalities being represented and the Mayor of Vic Park Mr Mick Lee (an immigrant himself who hasn't even taken the pledge because him 'mate' just sent him out the paperwork instead... Hmmm...)
We managed to get the lads through the ceremony without too many slip ups (apart from Jason being called a Pom, the guy getting Dougal's last name wrong and some foreigner always standing in front of me as I tried to take my photo's and videos... Ah well!
At the end of the ceremony we were all upstanding to sing the first verse of Advance Australia Fair - my second time no less! Then it was time for the munchies and beers!
After that Jason, Dug, Sam and I went off to Catalanos Cafe in Vic Park for a delicious meal and some champagne to celebrate the occasion. Sadly I had work the next day so common sense had me off home at a reasonable hour, but the lads went on from there and took advantage of a holiday the next day to recover! :o)
Only 332 days until I'll get to do the same thing! At least we all get to keep our British (Scottish!) citizenship too... Dual passports, eh? Very James Bond! Heh, heh, heh...
Catalanos
266 Albany Hwy
Victoria Park
WA, 6100
Australia
Ph: (08) 9362 1121
Australian citizenship website...
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/index.htm.
A Final Photograph As Scotsmen...
