The City of Greater Bendigo held its citizenship ceremony on Tuesday morning, where six Bendigonians became Australian citizens.
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A small, socially distanced cohort of family and friends of the new citizens were in attendance as Bendigo mayor Jennifer Alden and CEO Craig Niemann led proceedings.
Among the new citizens was 35-year-old Samir Verma, who first arrived in Australia in 2015 as an international student.
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"This is such a life changing movement," Mr Verma said.
"It is a great opportunity for me to be part of a new and exciting community.
"I came to Australia as an international student and then got an opportunity to work with the Australian Turntable Company and moved to Bendigo.
New citizen Eldo Abraham said he is honoured to become an Australian citizen, after migrating to Melbourne in 2015, before settling in Bendigo.
"I was looking for work and got an interview in Bendigo, so I took the train to come here," Mr Abraham said.
"I was eating a vegetarian diet at the time and at the railway station counter, I didn't see anything vegetarian.
"The lady there said she would go and make a sandwich especially for me.
"I have been to the United States, lived in India and Melbourne and thought nobody does this and that made me love Bendigo."
The 2021 City of Greater Bendigo Citizen of the Year Cathie Steele and Young Citizen of the Year Ma Aye Paw were both presented with certificates and gifts to commemorate their honour and each spoke of their pride in receiving an accolade from the city.
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