Thirty-nine new Australian Citizens from a wide mix of cultures and beliefs were welcomed during a ceremony at the Australia Day event in Cook Park on Sunday.
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The new citizens originally came from countries including Afghanistan, the Philippines, France, India, Thailand, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, Estonia, Bangladesh, Sweden and South Africa.
The Villanueva family from the Philippines and the Prusad family, originally from India, were among 39 people who became Australian citizens on Sunday.
Dr Deepak and Kavitha Prasad became citizens along with seven-year-old daughter Disha and four-year-old son Ayush Prasad.
Dr Prasad said the family originally came from India but he lived in United Kingdom for almost 14 years while while he completed his postgraduate medical studies.
However, he said he and his wife visited Australia 10 years ago and then moved here two years later with the intention of raising a family here.
They spent two years in Bathurst before moving to Orange where Dr Prasad works at PRP Diagnostic Imaging.
Mrs Prasad said while they lived in Bathurst they already had friends in Orange who they used to visit regularly.
Disha said she also liked the parks in Orange as well as attending Kinross Wolaroi School.
Ronah Villanueva said Australia felt like home to her when she moved her six years ago.
Mrs Villanueva, her husband Ralf and children Mary, Lg and Leroy also became Australian citizens.
"My husband came here for the 457 Visa, the skilled work Visa, we followed him after six months," Mrs Villanueva said.
She said initially Mr Villanueva worked at an abattoir but after moving to Orange about three months ago he started working at Westruss.
"The first time I came here I thought it's definitely the same [as the Philippines]... it feels definitely like home."
Orange mayor Reg Kidd welcomed the new citizens and said while the citizenship opened new opportunities including a chance to vote and be a part of Australian society, they could also retain their cultural identities, beliefs and practices.
"Australia's future depends on the way we all work together," Cr Kidd said.
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