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Commemorations throughout the year will include:

• The opening of Citizenship Place, on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, on Australia Day.
• Citizenship Place will feature a timeline wall and engraving of the Australian citizenship affirmation.
• Citizenship Place will be a focus for future citizenship celebrations
• A commemorative mintmark coin released by the Royal Australian Mint
• A 60th anniversary of citizenship message from the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, for all conferees throughout the year
• A 60th anniversary edition of citizenship school education resources,
• A 60th anniversary-themed conferral ceremonies at landmark events including Citizenship Day.

Citizenship today
More than 120 000 people from more than 200 countries became Australian citizens in 2007-08:
New South Wales 45 000
Victoria 30 700
Queensland 17 400
Western Australia 17 000
South Australia 6300
Australian Capital Territory 2500
Tasmania 900
Northern Territory 600

Most were from the United Kingdom, India, China, New Zealand and South Africa.

Citizenship for all Australians Australian citizenship carries responsibilities and privileges. It is a commitment of loyalty to Australia and its people and our shared democratic beliefs, laws and rights. It is a bond uniting our culturally diverse society.

It is fundamentally important that we all understand our civic responsibilities and the meaning of Australian citizenship, whether we are Australian by birth or by choice.

New Australian citizens make a public pledge of their commitment to Australia. The Australian citizenship affirmation allows all existing Australian citizens to do the same by reciting the words:

As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty to Australia and its people,Whose democratic beliefs I share,Whose rights and liberties I respect,And whose laws I uphold and obey.

Non-Australian citizens can join the affirmation at this line
Each year, local communities nominate exceptional citizens to become their state or territory’s Local Hero in the Australian of the Year awards. The local heroes are people whose actions exemplify civic values.

The 2009 Local Heroes are:
New South Wales: Dr Jamal Rifi, Muslim community leader
Victoria: Beverley Wall, town hero
Queensland: Cyril Golding, philanthropic businessman
Western Australia: Graham Drew, sea rescuer and educator
South Australia: Beverley Langley, wildlife rescuer
Australian Capital Territory: Tim Gavel, sports journalist and community worker
Tasmania: John Layton Hodgetts OAM, band leader
Northern Territory: Chowdhury Sadaruddin, Muslim community leader

Did you know…
Notable Australian citizenship conferees of the past include ground-breaking medical specialists Dr Victor Chang and Prof Fred Hollows, authors Bryce Courtenay and John M. Coetzee, former world boxing championKostya Tszyu and performers Jon Stevens and John Farnham.