Retiring Cottesloe MLA Colin Barnett and his wife Lyn started the national day at celebration at Mosman Park Council. Photo: Jon Bassett
Camera IconRetiring Cottesloe MLA Colin Barnett and his wife Lyn started the national day at celebration at Mosman Park Council. Photo: Jon Bassett Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Colin Barnett signs off by welcoming 50 new Australians on Australia Day

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

THE end of Cottesloe MLA Colin Barnett’s 27-year political career coincided with about 50 new Australian citizenships when he and his wife Lyne attended at the combined Mosman Park-Cottesloe-Peppermint Grove Australia Day ceremony last Friday.

“We are not going anywhere, and we’re now just going to be with you as Australian citizens,” Mr Barnett told those from his electorate who swore allegiance to the Commonwealth.

Mr Barnett said everyone should use the national day to reflect on the country as a whole, individuals’ places in it and the more than 40,000 years of Aboriginal civilisation before the arrival of white settlement.

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He said the soon-to-be-opened Yagan Square in Perth, started by his government, was the first recognition of the Aboriginal warriors who fought for change.

After choosing to live “in the best part of the best city in the best State in the best country”, all Australia asked of its new citizens was they become part of the community.

Philippines-born chef and Mosman Park resident Jaymon Torrino, his wife Nesslyn and their son Jayden (4), got their citizenships after migrating five years ago.

“It’s just really great because Australia is great for raising children and people helping each other,” Mr Torrino said.

The 2018 Mosman Park Citizen of the Year was real estate agent Gill Vivian (59) for her community work highlighting safety and crime, the young citizen is Youth Advisory Council chair Lachie Jones and the senior citizen award when to Mosman Park Primary School volunteer of more than 50 years Margaret Baldwin.

Peppermint Grove resident John Cunningham (82) was awarded his council’s Citizen of the Year for establishing the indigenous education Graham Farmer Foundation, while active citizen and mentor Angel Chang won the youth award and 106-year-old Mosman Bay Sea Scouts is the community group of the year.

In Cottesloe, the Citizen of the Year is Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club’s Paul Gerrard (59) for his services to surf lifesaving since 1973, the senior’s award went to community volunteer Betty Flynn and the community group of the year is the Cottesloe-based WA deaf Education History Group.

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