It's not unusual for Mount Isa's Buchanan Park to host a citizenship ceremony, but it is when the Governor-General of Australia is hosting it.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That was the case on Monday when 13 new citizens from Fiji, Canada, Russia, Ghana, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, Philippines and Sri Lanka were sworn in by Governor-General David Hurley.
The Governor-General and his wife, David and Linda Hurley, were on a two day visit to Mount Isa, their first visit to the region since they went to Cloncurry and Julia Creek last year, their first trip out of Canberra since being sworn in.
The Governor-General said citizenship ceremonies were a big step in people's lives.
"We cannot underestimate how important it is and how large that decision is," the Governor-General said.
The Governor-General said the reason they were in Mount Isa was because that was his job, to meet the people of Australia and find out the great things they were doing in their daily lives.
The Governor-General's visit to Mount Isa began with a welcoming morning tea at the Ngukuthati Children and Family Centre with Father Mick Lowcock and representatives of local Indigenous organisations on Monday, November 16.
The Governor-General and Mrs Hurley then attended a Council briefing, and had lunch with Mayor Danielle Slade, Councillors and business leaders at the Council Chambers.
After the Citizenship Ceremony they were guests at a civic reception at Outback at Isa and on Tuesday they took part in a morning walk with a local walking group, did a tree-planting in recognition of Mount Isa's pioneers, had a tour of Mount Isa Mines, and met and have lunch with a number of Mount Isa school leaders at the Council Chambers.
The couple were due to travel to the Carpentaria Shire for another two days late Tuesday.
Mayor Danielle Slade said it was an honour for Mount Isa to have the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley visit and tour the city.
"This is the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley's first visit to Mount Isa, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome them to our wonderful city. We trust they will thoroughly enjoy the experience," Cr Slade said.
READ ALSO: Prospectors 'hit the jackpot' at Cloncurry
While you are here, subscribe to our weekly email delivered to your inbox every Tuesday and Friday.