Hinchinbrook Citizenship Ceremony: Mayor Ramon Jayo welcomes new Australians

A group of new Australians were welcomed into a close-knit North Queensland community this week during a heartwarming citizenship ceremony. See why they’ve chosen to call it home.

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo, councillors and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto with new Australians James Capstick, Itai Chishanga, Leigh-Ann Christians, Rakta Krause, Stacey Lay, Jonathon Pearce and Barbara Riveros. Picture: Cameron Bates

The predominantly rural district of Hinchinbrook has welcomed a bumper crop of new Australians.

Mayor Ramon Jayo greeted a total of seven new citizens, including former Englishman James Capstick, during a Citizenship Ceremony at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library on Tuesday.

Mr Capstick, 29, said he had travelled to Australia as a teenager and ended up playing rugby union in Scone, New South Wales.

“When I went home, the club got in touch and asked me to come back and I did, and within three days I met you,” Mr Capstick said of wife Tennille who was working at the local RSL at the time.

“I yelled at him because he had his hat on,” Mrs Capstick said, “and you can’t have your hat on in an RSL, he didn’t know, and I yelled at him and he turned around to my best friend and said, ‘I’m going to marry that girl’.”

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo with new Aussie James Capstick, wife Tennille and baby Sophia at the Citizenship Ceremony at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library on Tuesday. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Capstick said his wife, who has just opened Sola hair salon in Cardwell, was originally from Ingham so he successfully applied for an Ergon apprenticeship in Ingham in 2020.

He said gaining citizenship and the ability to vote meant he felt like a contributing member of Australian society.

“When we go back to England it doesn’t feel like home, this is home now.”

Former South African Leigh-Ann Christians is a physiotherapist at Ingham Hospital. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Capstick said he would be celebrating his Aussie citizenship with a meat pie and chocolate milk.

Former South African Leigh-Ann Christians, a physiotherapist at Ingham Hospital, had celebrated with a lovely home-cooked lunch with a group of about 10 friends on Sunday.

“I came to Australia for the safety and the multicultural society in 2020, the friendliness of the people and the sunshine, in some states.”

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo with Rakta Krause at the Citizenship Ceremony at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library on Tuesday. Picture: Cameron Bates

She said she loved Ingham, describing it as a “very close-knit, friendly town”.

“I’m just thankful to be able to meet friendly people and I love Ingham very much,” she said.

“I plan to celebrate by getting my Australian passport.”

The ceremony was attended by a number of councillors and Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto.

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo with new Aussies Barbara Riveros and Jonathon Pearce at the Citizenship Ceremony at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library on Tuesday. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Jayo said Hinchinbrook celebrated diversity.

He congratulated the new citizens, wishing them “all the best in their new chapters of life”.

“The decision to become an Australian Citizen is a major one,” he said.

“Like other major life decisions, it is a choice that involves commitment, responsibility, public recognition, celebrations of the present and hopes for a common future.”

Originally published as Hinchinbrook Citizenship Ceremony: Mayor Ramon Jayo welcomes new Australians