JUST minutes after becoming Australian citizens, three Indian expats commandeered the flag of their new nation from the stage of the community centre and waved it above their heads outside on a searing summer morning.
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Jis Sebastian, the protagonist in the flag snatch, and his friends Titus Alias and Jinto Joseph are all from the same state in India, Kerala and have lived in Tamworth together for a number of years.
On January 26, the three Indian men became Australians.
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The men openly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to become Australian.
It simmered into an ebullience which could only bubble over into unabashed flag waving pride.
Mr Alias said he moved to Australia, where he has been a permanent resident for many years, for work and a “good life”.
“Australia Day itself says so much about how our culture is and what we believe in and what we expect and more than anything it’s what we are,” he said.
“To come to this ceremony and take up the oath, it’s the completion of being an Australian.”
Mr Sebastian was very excited to take the oath as well.
“It is really exciting to be considered a citizen of Australia, I will proudly say ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’,” he said.
For Mr Joseph, it validated his decision to move to Australia.
He said Tamworth had been a very welcoming community from the start.
“It is a beautiful country and I love the people here,” he said.
“If you go to town, you will see a lot of familiar faces.
“This is one of the most exciting and happiest days.”
Mr Joseph said he would have a low-key celebration to mark his first day as an Australian with family, friends and a few drinks.
There were 24 people who took the oath to become citizens on Saturday, coming from nations including England, the Philippines, India, Denmark, Singapore and the US.