Every second month, around one 135 people from more than 30 different countries become new Australians in the City of Boroondara.
As in many citizenship ceremonies around the country, each new Australian is given a memento of their special occasion; the memento is either a small seedling of a native tree or a specially minted one dollar coin and each of them also receives an 'Aussie Pride' lapel badge which consists of a sprig of golden wattle and the national flag.
The President of the Rotary Club of Canterbury, Peter May, has attended several citizenship ceremonies hosted at the Hawthorn Arts Centre in Melbourne’s inner East and says the new pledges wear their Aussie Pride badges proudly as they introduce themselves to those seated around them as 'Aussies'.
The history of the badge goes back to 2002 when it was designed by former Police Commissioner and Australia Day Ambassador, Bob Falconer APM and local councils have been presenting this badge to new Australian Citizens for more than a decade.
Learn more about the history and significance of the Aussie Pride badge here.