Double celebrations for migrant family

Dalyellup man Gurpreet Singh Chahal and his son Harshaan have two reasons to celebrate today.

The pair will become Australian citizens on the same day India commemorates Republic Day and remembers the day it became a sovereign state.

Mr Singh Chahal and his son are two of 30migrants, hailing from as far as Mexico and Belgium, who will be granted citizenship at theBunbury ceremony at Centenary Gardens today.

Originally from the northern state of Punjab in India, Mr Singh Chahal moved toAustralia in 2007 on the skilled migration scheme as a software engineer.

Mr Singh Chahal said although the family had hailed from India they had embraced the Australian lifestyle.

‘‘We are proudly saying we are adopting Australian culture and kind hearted people,’’ he said.

Mr Singh Chahal said the move had been a challenge and he had struggled to get work when he first arrived.

‘‘I started with a small job in a chicken factory, then worked as a rigger but for the past two years I’ve been working with Veolia Environmental Services as an operator,’’ he said.

The family have just finished building their first home in Dalyellup and moved in last week.

Mr Chahal said he wanted to thank the Australian people who had helped the family settle in a new country.

‘‘I have found Australia is the best country in world in terms of the standard of living,’’ he said.

Bunbury Mayor David Smith said Australia Day was an opportunity to celebrate all the country had to offer new and existing citizens.

‘‘It is fitting to have a joyous celebration of what Australia is, what it could become and just as joyously to celebrate individuals and families who will make Australia their permanent home,’’ he said.

‘‘Apart from Indigenous Australians, we all come from migrant descent who have arrived over 224 years and helped to mmake Australia a great place to live.’’