Naturalisation ceremony comes to Palmwoods

FOR the first time in its history, Palmwoods will have its own naturalisation ceremony for residents wishing to take the step in their home town.

The ceremony will be part of the Australia Day celebrations on January 26, 1998, which will also include the annual Breakfast in the Park and presentation of Palmwoods Citizen of the Year Awards.

However residents wishing to be naturalised and presented with their papers in Palmwoods and who have not yet applied, are being urged to act promptly if they wish to be part of the 1998 Australia Day celebration.

Application forms must be collected from the Nambour Post Office, completed and forwarded to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs as a matter of urgency. The application fee is $80 but this will rise to $120 after January 1, 1998.

A Maroochy Shire Council spokesman said a covering letter stressing the urgency for the application to be processed immediately should accompany the forms.

After the forms are returned by the department, the applicant undergoes an interview at the Post Office and presents the relevant documentation.

"The process can take anything from six to 10 weeks so applicants who get in straight away may be lucky enough to get their papers through in time for January," she said.

Maroochy Shire Mayor Don Culley has announced that he and his staff members will be available to attend the ceremony in Palmwoods, one of only four in the shire.

President of the Palmwoods Progress Association Ron Corelli said the group had been seeking to have a naturalisation ceremony included in its Australia Day celebrations for the last couple of years.

"We were aware that the Mayor is extremely busy on this day with ceremonies around the shire so we are very pleased that he has seen fit to include Palmwoods in this schedule," he said.

"We look forward to welcoming our new citizens on Australia Day."

The Australia Day celebrations will begin with Breakfast in Kolora Park at 7.30am followed by the official ceremonies at 9.15am and an entertainment program from 10am.