In a ceremony held on Tuesday this week, at Council Chambers in Forster, Mayor Cr Jan McWilliams welcomed twelve residents of Great Lakes who made their pledge of commitment to become Australian Citizens.

“This is one of my favourite duties as Mayor – to be able to have this personal interaction with new citizens and to make them feel welcome,” said Mayor Cr Jan McWilliams.

Tea Gardens resident Sandra Clark was one of those proud to make her commitment in front of her parents Jim and Sandra Meade.

Sandra said, “My parents emigrated from England with five children in 1971 with our first address being the Villawood Migrant Hostel, home was a communal tin shed known as Nissan Hut.”

“Last year at my father’s birthday we siblings all spoke of how through that courageous decision all those years ago, our family has been blessed to live a fortuitous life of opportunities and through hard work has prospered here in Australia,” Sandra said.

“It was then I knew the time was right for me to become an Australian Citizen to show my gratitude, appreciation and respect by making my Pledge of Commitment in front of my parents, to Australia and its people for a truly wonderful life,” she said.

Returning to Tea Gardens some two years ago, Sandra loves the lifestyle offered in Great Lakes and said she wouldn’t swap it for the world.

Sandra loves V8 Supercars and all things motorsport.

She is looking forward to an upcoming ‘Drive Day’ with V8 Supercar driver Nick Percat.

Sandra is also an active member of the Tea Gardens Pearls group: a group of women who get together socially and who raise money to support the areas charities.