Above: Registering to vote with the Australian Electoral Commission was part of the Citizenship Ceremony. From left AEC representatives David and Barbara Sweaney, Cr Jeanette McRae, Elizabeth Taylor and Ed Bartosh.By Kath Gannaway
ED BARTOSH cast his first vote last week as an Australian citizen.
Mr Bartosh from Coldstream said “yes” to the Shire of Yarra Ranges’s new citizenship model.
The shire held the first of its regional citizenship ceremonies on Saturday 17 May at the Yarra Glen Memorial Hall, a move away from the traditional Lilydale-based event.
Mr Bartosh and his wife Elizabeth Taylor came to Australia four years ago from America and very quickly took an active role in the rural Steels Creek community.
Having served in the American army he was quickly recruited as secretary of the Yarra Glen RSL.
Ms Taylor also got involved in community activities.
Having the citizenship ceremony at the local hall added a nice touch Mr Bartosh said to an important occasion.
“I enjoy that tradition and think it’s worthwhile to show up in public and pledge your allegiance to the country you are making home.
“This is our home, so we wanted to be part of it in a full way,” he said of his motivation for taking on citizenship at the first opportunity.
Being made so welcome helped with the decision.
“Acceptance here is much quicker than in America.
“Within a week we were invited to join the (Steels Creek) community centre for movies and tennis and I had a neighbour who took me to the pub and taught me ways Australian,” he joked.
Tom Jefferies, a Yarra Glen resident who is originally from Canada, said the ceremony had a real sense of community to it.
Mr Jefferies, whose wife Elizabeth and two daughters Alexandra and Dominique accompanied him, said the ceremony and the large crowd was fantastic.
“It was a good feeling. I felt really moved and proud to be part of it,” he said.
The ceremony was conducted by Yarra Ranges mayor Tim Heenan and Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae with Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe and Seymour MP Ben Hardman.
Wurundjeri Elder Doreen Garvey-Wandin and Yarra Glen Primary School captains Ellen Stubbs and Jacob Stevenson also took part.
The 55 new citizens and their families filled the hall, students from Yarra Glen Primary School sang the National Anthem and other Aussie songs and the Healesville Country Women’s Association (CWA) provided a country-style afternoon tea which all added to the atmosphere.
Cr McRae said Australian citizenship meant embracing the sense of community and looking out for each other.
“It was great to see this occur in Yarra Glen, the first time away from Lilydale,” she said adding her appreciation for the contribution of the Yarra Glen students and the CWA.
Cr Heenan said the new model was more personal and allowed more people to be involved.
“It was great to see so many family members and friends there,” he said.
“This is a mix we will run with now, having smaller events at different locations across the shire.”
