Robyn and Tim Mortimer with twoyearold Tian, who was welcomed as an Australian Citizen at the ceremony at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.Elizabeth Lillis
AUSTRALIA Day was a special day for twoyearold Tian Mortimer, who, along with 55 others, was welcomed as an Australian citizen at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
Tian, who happily tells everyone she is three in February, has been waiting for her Australia Day party.
“She was saying, ‘it is my Australia Day party, Mum’,” said her adoptive mother Robyn.
Beaconsfield residents Robyn and Tim Mortimer signed up for the intercountry adoption program three years ago.
Tian was adopted by the Mortimers and brought to Australia from Hubei Province in China when she was aged 19 months.
As part of the agreement between Australia and China, the parents of the adopted child need to take out citizenship of their new country on the child’s behalf.
Mrs Mortimer said Tian’s citizenship papers were completed prior to the ceremony, along with another young girl from China named Alex.
“I rang up and the shire and they were willing to let us come along and mark the occasion along with the other people becoming citizens,” she said.
Mrs Mortimer said she and her husband were thankful for the opportunity to join in.
“We only have a small family. Tian’s grandmother and grandfather came along,” she said.
Mr Mortimer said the couple had missed some milestones early in Tian’s life and the opportunity to participate in the Australia Day ceremony made up for this.
Tian was keen to join in celebrations after the ceremony, asking if she could have her face painted before heading home for a family party.
Tian when aged 16 will have the opportunity to take on the citizen commitment as an adult.
