Manchester-born Gawler East couple Elizabeth (left) and James Robinson will become Australian citizens on Sunday. PHOTO: Sam Bradbrook
GAWLER East couple James and Elizabeth Robinson knew they wanted to gain Australian citizenship as soon as they decided to migrate to Australia.
After six years of frequently visiting their sons who had moved to South Australia, the pair decided to relocate themselves six years ago, pinpointing Gawler as the place they wanted to live.
Mrs Robinson said the last time her and James left Australia to return to their home town near Manchester, England, it felt like they were leaving home.
“We came several times and we stayed for three months at a time,” she said.
“There’s always been this affinity between Australia and England because they’re so alike, so I’ve always felt at home here.
“I still can’t believe that I actually live here though.”
James and Elizabeth are two of 38 immigrants who will officially become Australian citizens at the Gawler Council Australia Day breakfast on Sunday.
The new Australians will be presented with their citizenship certificate and take the Australian citizenship pledge in what will be the council’s largest ceremony ever.
Mr Robinson found it “special” he and his wife would celebrate the moment they officially became Australian on the country’s national day.
“To me, having it on Australia Day is spot on,” he said.
“I know there is one in September and on other days of the year, but, to me, having it on Australia Day is special.
“We sit on the bench at Glenelg or Semaphore, looking over the sea and think ‘we’re in Australia and it’s fantastic’.
“I still can’t get over it.”
The couple are now stalwarts of the Gawler community, with Elizabeth a member of the Gawler Community Gallery and James a local bus driver.
They discovered the town while visiting one of their sons, who lives in Hewett, and decided if they were to move to Australia, Gawler would be their new home.
“We always said we’d come to Gawler because we loved it from the minute we saw it,” Mrs Robinson said.
“We lived in an 1843 cottage in England, and as soon as we saw Gawler we saw all the old characteristics.
“A lot of people have asked ‘why Gawler? Why not here or there’, but we’ve always loved Gawler and never thought about living anywhere else.”
