AMONG the many hundreds of people who became Australian citizens at Australia Day ceremonies around the country on Monday were Nasim Uddin, Nasrin Naaz and daughter Janeeta Nasim.
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The family, originally from Bangladesh, were presented with their citizenship certificates by City of Greater Bendigo Mayor Peter Cox at a ceremony at the Bendigo Town Hall.
Mr Uddin said he'd chosen to migrate to Australia based on shared values of equal opportunity and open society.
Ms Naaz also nominated fairness of opportunity as a reason to chose Australia, particularly equality between men and women.
"One of the things I really love is that (Australians) are really friendly and have time to listen," she said.
"They love to learn about other cultures."
She said becoming an Australian citizen was important because she wanted to spend the rest of her life here.
"Becoming a citizen has actually proved to me that this is my country now," she said.
"Becoming a citizen on Australia's (national) day means a lot."
Federal member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters was on hand assisting councillor Cox and she said it was wonderful to be able to be a part of the ceremony.
"The sea of faces was inspiring, we had 41 new citizens from 30 different nations," she said.
"We come together in this country and that's what makes us strong."
