Coffs Harbour residents take out Australian citizenship at awards ceremony
A teenage boy who escaped the military regime in Myanmar with his mum was among those to gain Australian citizenship in Coffs Harbour. See how Biak’s story has taken a turn for the better.
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From all walks and backgrounds – the latter terrifying for many – 87 new Australians took the oath as they gained citizenship at a ceremony in Coffs Harbour.
Under leaden sky and cloaking rain, the Australia Day program in the botanic gardens was a riot of colour as many dressed in the traditional dress of their homeland.
Amid the occasional rallied cry of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi” from wellwishers, mayor Paul Amos laid out the red carpet for the freshly minted citizens.
“Coffs Harbour in particular prides itself on diversity,” Mr Amos said.
An extraordinary number of those taking the pledge were from Myanmar.
Thang Biak Sing Thawmte (Biak to his friends) was one – and the 16-year-old’s story is shared and yet his own.
Biak, his brother and his mother Cing Za Ciin travelled to neighbouring India after the military coup in Myanmar.
“Me, my brother and my mum had to flee our home when we heard news of some military personnel detaining my father and taking him to the countryside into the woods,” Biak said.
“I was very young and unaware of the implications.”
Biak’s brother soon fell ill, while his mother did what she could to keep the family alive while they awaited permanent resettlement through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Despite being a single mum of two boys in a foreign land, Biak said his mum tackled their lot like a “fierce lioness ready to fend for her cubs” and found work as a tailor.
“My mother worked relentlessly and tirelessly day and night pumping the treadle like an Olympic athlete,” he said.
Word finally came that Australia would take them in.
“I was spending all my days watching and dreaming about Australia,” Biak said, but the relief turned to heartbreak when his brother succumbed to his illness, and died from a heart attack in 2013.
The following year, Biak and his mother arrived in Australia.
They have been stunned by the reception at Coffs Harbour.
“We were welcomed into warm hands from our own Zomi people who had already established a small community as they too, like us, were mostly refugees who had made the journey here before us,” Biak said.
“There’s been nothing but loves and hugs since we arrived in Australia.”
The warm embrace by the local community has included a scholarship from Bishop Druitt College, which has covered Biak from primary through to high school.
“And now, I am Australian, my mother is Australian,” he said.
“I will be forever in debt to my mum and Australia and am lost for words to express my gratitude.”
Moses Maliet – from South Sudan to Coffs
Mr Maliet came to Australia in 2006 to escape the war in his homeland, and in 2012 moved to Coffs Harbour where he works in hotel maintenance.
“It’s a quiet place, and a beautiful place to raise my children,” he said of his six charges ranging in age from three to 12.
“The people here are very friendly.”
Melanie Hunter – from New Zealand to Coffs
“I’ve been here 16 years next week,” Ms Hunter said.
She met her now husband, Kent, in London, who has family on the Mid-North Coast.
With five children in tow, the Kents are loving life by the seaside.
Matheus Ponciano Maciel – from Brazil to Coffs
“I came here to learn English, to travel, and being single – to look for love,” he said.
And that he found in Deb, who he married.
Mr Ponciano Maciel has been living at Coffs for the past three years and received perhaps the largest cheer from the crowd when he stepped up to receive his citizenship certificate on Australia Day.
Khalid Omar – from Iraq to Coffs
With his home country dealing with the menace of Islamic State, Mr Omar and his wife Gulan moved to Australia in 2017.
“This (Coffs) is a nice place to live,” he said.
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