Somerset welcomes 29 new citizens

Published on 20 June 2025

Somerset Regional Council Mayor Jason Wendt and Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann with three new Australian citizens: Matt Barabat, Andrei Barabat and Arvin Barabat.

SOMERSET is now the proud home to 29 new Australian citizens.

Somerset Regional Council celebrated the milestone at a Citizenship Ceremony on Thursday, 19 June at the Somerset Civic Centre in Esk.

The 29 conferees hail from Canada, Cambodia, Egypt, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdon and Vietnam.

Mayor Jason Wendt welcomed the new Australians to the Somerset region.

“It’s a privilege to welcome so many wonderful people from such diverse backgrounds to Australia,” Cr Wendt said.

“These ceremonies are the final step in the journey to becoming an Australian Citizen, and it’s an honour to be part of this moment.

“It’s heartwarming to see so many people choosing to call Australia, and Somerset, their home.”

Cr Wendt thanked Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann for joining the ceremony.

The new citizens each received certificates, Australian flags, bags of goodies and a small weeping bottlebrush tree (callistemon viminalis), Somerset’s floral emblem.

Uraiwan Kong-lad from Thailand now calls Somerset home.

Shayne Neumann, Eh Poh Lwae Saw Bwar, Sa Tree Saw Bwar and Mayor Jason Wendt.