Canterbury Bankstown

There is no greater privilege than
becoming an Australian citizen!
The freedoms we enjoy, the
opportunities to thrive and excel,
and the peace of mind knowing we
can raise a family in a country that is
peaceful and embraces cultures
from across the globe.
When I reflect on my own journey to
Australia, I remember being scared to
leave my old life behind. I was only 12
years old and couldn’t speak a word
of English, but my late father always
reminded me that with hard work and
dedication, I could achieve whatever
I put my mind to.
As the Mayor of a City that has more
than 150 different nationalities, I take
pride in sharing my story and my
dad’s message to the more than
2,000 new citizens sworn in during
Citizenship Ceremonies this year.
In the past 12 months, we have
welcomed people from more than
50 countries and no matter what age,
race, gender or religion, the one thing
they all have in common is their
decision to call Australia home.
One new citizen who really stood out
for me was 94-year-old Ghazala
Al-Hannoodiee. A grandmother who
left her homeland to travel thousands
of kilometres and begin a new life in
our City.
Leaving one’s place of birth is
difficult enough but to do it after
spending a lifetime is unimaginable.
Canterbury-Bankstown is one of the
most multicultural, multifaith and
multilingual places in the world and I
am proud to live in a City that
celebrates its diversity and
welcomes everybody to live
harmoniously.
It has been a great year, and I know
they will all be proud of their decision
to settle in our great City.
I encourage everyone to use this
privilege to make a positive impact in
our community and I look forward to
hearing about your wonderful
contributions to our City in the future.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR