Over a dozen new citizens were celebrated at a ceremony recently, making official their status as Australians.

Moira Shire Council administrators, joined by state Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy, bestowed citizenship certificates on 13 residents after families, friends and dignitaries gathered at the Cobram Civic Centre on Wednesday, September 17.

Among the new citizens were Cobram couple Jaspal Singh and Amandeep Kaur.

Since settling in Cobram from Punjab, India, they’ve worked hard to build a life in their new country.

About six weeks ago, they welcomed a baby daughter into the world.

Meanwhile, it has been quite the year for new citizen Kotchaporn Walter, 33.

The Thailand-born Kotchaporn and her Australian husband, Carl, recently celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Eve.

This month, the couple also marked their third anniversary of Kotchaporn’s Thai restaurant in Shepparton, Aloi Thai.

It took some time for Kotchaporn to adjust to the slower pace of country life in Australia since moving, but she hasn’t looked back.

“It’s a good life,” she said.

“When I was in Thailand, it was very busy. Everything is busy.”

Meanwhile, Xavier Murphy, 21, is a new citizen who has settled into life in Yarrawonga after moving across from New Zealand with his family nine years ago.

“I suppose it doesn’t really feel any different ... I never felt unwelcome,” he said.

About 19 months ago, Xavier opened his own martial arts club in Wangaratta, called the Ikigai Martial Arts Academy.

There, he specialises in training students in karate and kick-boxing, enjoying the chance to follow his passion for the sport.

“I started (martial arts) back in New Zealand, when I was about eight years old, and continued it since we moved here,” he said.

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