Text of my Speech

Citizenship Ceremony
2 September 2009

Lord Major, distinguished guests, fellow Australians, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have been asked to say a few words on what it means to my Family and I to become Australians Citizens…….Firstly, I think our story is very similar to a number of the new citizens here tonight, but the overriding feeling I have is……that

It’s good to have the feeling of belonging again!

My wife and I were born and raised in South Africa, had all our children there and decided to move to Australia at the end of 2005, arriving in early 2006.

It is said that once you have Africa in your blood, you can never get rid of it. Whilst I think this is very true, we decided to give it a go for a number of reasons, the main one being that we could offer both ourselves and our children a future that was both secure and safe. So, we took the opportunity of a good job and sound prospects and made the “leap of faith” to move to Australia.

Leaving my eldest son to complete his University in Cape Town was very difficult for us; however my Daughter came with us, and studied at QUT to complete her teaching degree. She has since graduated and is now an English teacher at Westside Christian College, and our youngest Son attends The Gap State High. We settled in The Gap and have found a community that we feel we share common values with, and enjoy being a part of.


We are grateful for the opportunities we have been able to enjoy, for the help and assistance given to us by many people, and for the ability to contribute to and participate in the “Australian lifestyle”.

Difficult as it may be, having to support a number of the Aussie sporting teams at a time when South Africa are No 1 in World Cricket and the World Champions in Rugby, the same shared interests in Sporting achievement come easily to both South Africans and Australians alike, and although we like to put each other down, secretly (I think) we just love the competition.

As a coach at The Valleys Districts Cricket Club in Ashgrove, I was always very proud when everyone told me, that apart from the many great Australian Cricketers that played for the club, they also included Kepler Wessels, our Ex South African cricket Captain in the same list (and in those days he could play for both Australia and South Africa).

This brought home to me that Australia is a country of immigrants and the ex South African contingent (which is growing very fast) also has a contribution to make in Australia.

We also decided to assimilate with all the Australians we met, and went out of our way to try and make friends with Australians from all walks in life, and found that today we have not only, many ex South African friends, but also many Aussie Mates and this means a tremendous amount to us. One and all have been so very kind to us.

My wife contracted cancer last year, and I believe she received the best treatment she could have anywhere in the world, right here at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and with their help she has beaten her condition. We are very grateful for this.

So, we now feel at home here, and as I said in the beginning, we can finally BELONG again. We can participate in our new found country and enjoy the many privileges that so many take for granted in this wonderful land down under.



Thank you all very much