Docklands family chooses citizenship

Docklands family chooses citizenship

The Thakkars, originally from India, became Docklands’ newest Australian citizens at a City of Melbourne citizenship ceremony on August 29.

The family – Payal (mum), Kartik (dad) and Tanush (son) – moved to Australia more than a decade ago.

“In 2005 we got married and both decided to move to Australia. We were in Brisbane for the first three years,” Kartik said.

But Melbourne had more work and opportunities: “Since then, we haven’t looked back.”

It was for practicality at first, but now the Thakkars say they love Melbourne and particularly Docklands.

“We have a house in the suburbs but we rent it out because we don’t feel like moving out of Docklands,” Kartik said.

Payal has taught children at the Community Hub in maths, English and Hindi.

“There’s a decent sized Indian community in Docklands,” Payal said.

The family said diversity was a significant factor in choosing to apply for citizenship.

Although seven-year-old Tanush was born in Australia, he didn’t have citizenship as his parents were on a work visa when he was born.

They chose to apply for citizenship after working through a difficult decision: India doesn’t allow dual citizenship – so it was one or the other. They believe it was the right decision.

Although they applied together in April last year, Payal was granted her citizenship first. But they were all together at Kartik and Tanush’s ceremony on August 29 to celebrate as a family.

The ceremony celebrated the new citizenship of almost 100 people from 37 different nationalities.

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