True blue Gary 'official' after 46 years

When the Australians battered the English in this summer’s Ashes series they had no bigger supporter than British-born Bunbury man Gary Fishlock.

He has lived in Australia since he was two, moving from England in 1968, and has long considered himself to be an Aussie.

But despite living in the country for 46 years, marrying an Australian woman and having four children, he has technically been a British citizen.

But from today, Mr Fishlock can officially call himself an Australian.

He was one of 60 people who last night attended a citizenship ceremony at the Bunbury City Council function room.

He joined the new citizens who declared their loyalty to Australia and pledged to share the country’s democratic beliefs and abide by its laws.

Mr Fishlock said he was excited to become a citizen, having put off applying for many years.

“I suppose I have been too busy, ” he said. “There was never a need to in the early days.

“I see myself 100 per cent as an Australian. It has never been a question of that. It has been a matter of timing.”

He said now that he did fly-in, fly-out work and his children were older, he had found time to apply.

However, he said it was a tough application, which included having to pass a 20-question test about Australian history and society.

“For someone who has been here for 46 years you think you would know all the answers, ” he said.

Mr Fishlock moved to WA with his family. He grew up in Beverley, in the Wheatbelt, and now lives in South Bunbury.

His tale is one of the many stories of Bunbury’s newest citizens who originated in 19 countries including South Africa, India, Germany and Malaysia.

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