Rockhampton Regional Council welcomed 35 new Australians at a citizenship ceremony at City Hall yesterday.
The citizens represented 14 different countries of origin including South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, France, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Germany, India and Singapore.
Mayor Tony Williams welcomed the Region's newest Australians, presenting them with their official citizenship certificate during the ceremony.
"It is a privilege to welcome them to the Region and I consider it an honour to be part of the special moments when these individuals and families become citizens," Mayor Williams said.
"We are proud to be a multi-cultural community, with a diverse range of nationalities represented within the fabric of our Region, making it a great place to live, work and raise a family.
"One of my favourite things about being part of these ceremonies is hearing their stories and learning more about the backgrounds of our newest citizens.
"I hope they feel a sense of belonging and will understand why we think this Region is a great place to call home."
Within the last 12 months, Council has held three citizenship ceremonies with 131 people becoming new Australians.
Kim and Ed Rice are part of the group celebrating their citizenship, having moved to Australia five years ago from South Africa.
"We moved to Australia for a better future for our children," Mrs Rice said.
"We ended up in Rockhampton because my husband got a job here, even though we had never even heard about Rockhampton before."
Mrs Rice said despite the difficulties of moving to a new country, their family has put down strong roots within the community and feel a sense of belonging in Australia.
"We love living here; we have made such great friends and have an amazing support system around us," she said.
"The Region has so much to offer families, and it has a small-town soul but all the conveniences of a big city.
"We love the beautiful beaches, open space, minimal traffic and friendly people."
