Crafting of an Australian Citizenship Quilt NSW Contributions
Crafting of an Australian Citizenship Quilt NSW Contributions
Crafting of an Australian Citizenship Quilt NSW Contributions
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Gilchrist, Anthea<br />
Cherrybrook <strong>NSW</strong><br />
“Our <strong>Citizenship</strong> Day”<br />
The artist migrated with her family from South Africa <strong>an</strong>d has incorporated a photograph <strong>of</strong> her<br />
<strong>Citizenship</strong> ceremony in her square for the Australi<strong>an</strong> <strong>Citizenship</strong> <strong>Quilt</strong>, describing the day as “one <strong>of</strong><br />
the happiest in their lives.”<br />
ID089<br />
“When we grew up we had the same kind <strong>of</strong> freedom that children have here. We could ride our bikes<br />
to the corner shop, we could play in the park, we could be out until dark, without fear. As time went on<br />
South Africa became <strong>an</strong> unsafe place to live. Crime rates soared, we couldn’t let our children out <strong>of</strong> our<br />
sight for a minute. We lived behind big fences <strong>an</strong>d gates <strong>an</strong>d had p<strong>an</strong>ic buttons <strong>an</strong>d guns to protect<br />
ourselves <strong>an</strong>d our home. Life became very stressful. We didn’t w<strong>an</strong>t our children growing up like that…<br />
We were so determined that Australia was going to be our home forever that we applied for our<br />
citizenship as soon as we were eligible. That day we took the oath was one <strong>of</strong> the happiest in our lives.<br />
We knew that from then on our children would have a brighter future <strong>an</strong>d we could live a happier, safer<br />
life. We have never looked back <strong>an</strong>d we never take for gr<strong>an</strong>ted how lucky we are to live in such a<br />
wonderful country.”
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