No better place to call home

Selina Ma celebrated her citizenship at the Noosa Leisure Centre.

Geoff Potter

RAIN may have forced Australia Day celebrations indoors on Thursday, but the spirit of the day could not be dampened.

The Noosa Leisure Centre came alive with cheers of more than 250 new Australian citizens from Egypt, Turkey, North America and Europe taking the oath and affirmation - cementing their place within the country.

They were joined by hundreds more who turned up, some dressed head to toe in the green and gold, and others draped with the Australian flag, to celebrate their freedom, culture and diversity.

Lisa Salter, originally from London, took to the microphone to voice her gratitude for becoming an Australian on the day.

"I'm very proud to be here in this beautiful country," she said, to a round of applause.

"I felt like I had to be here... it gives us more freedom."

Another new citizen, Joel Gall, who was raised in the US and has lived in the Middle East and Africa through his career in the oil and gas industry, said there was no better choice of a place to live.

"What brought us to Australia was the Sunshine Coast," he said.

"It's just a fantastic place to live.

"Out of all the places I've lived I would say this is as good as it gets."

Australia Day celebrations also saw performances by the Kngarin Dance Troupe, the Sunshine Coast Youth Orchestra, the Noosa Pipe Band and a performance by poet John Major.

Earlier on there was a breakfast and flag raising ceremony.

The Citizenship Ceremony was presided over by mayor Bob Abbot, and hosted by TV presenter Ben Dark.