Our tiniest new citizen, Srithan Pandiri, excited to be an Aussie

One of Australia’s tiniest new citizens, Srithan Pandiri, was so excited to be become a citizen he woke up at the crack of dawn, running through his Melbourne home yelling “hooray!”

Srithan Pandiri, 2 was youngest person to become a citizen at the Melbourne Town Hall ceremony. Picture: Sarah Matray

One of Australia’s tiniest new citizens was so excited this morning he woke up at the crack of dawn.

Two-year-old Srithan Pandiri usually wakes at about 8.30am, but knowing he was getting a “surprise gift” of citizenship today, he was up two hours early running through his Melbourne home yelling “hooray!”

“We practised the affirmation last night for about half an hour,” dad Naga Pandiri said.

“I wanted to show respect that we could both say it.”

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Srithan Pandiri, 2 with his dad Naga Pandiri have become Australian citizens. Picture: Sarah Matray

Father and son took part in the citizenship ceremony at Melbourne Town Hall, with Srithan excitedly waving his new Australian flag.

After the ceremony, Srithan had lost his words but his beaming smile and energetic flag waving showed just how he felt.

Mr Pandiri and wife Stuthi Morapaka came to Australia from India, with their son born here almost three years ago.

But with parents not permanent residents, their little boy did not automatically become a citizen.

“I definitely feel there is a better life here for him,” Mr Pandiri said.

“I am so excited today, I can’t express with my words — I couldn’t sleep last night,” he said.

DRESSCODE REDUNDANT AT CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s citizenship dress code, which doesn’t come into effect until next year, was almost completely redundant at Melbourne’s ceremony with just one person in 100 wearing casual dress.

One young man of the 100 new citizens at Melbourne Town Hall wore black tracksuit pants with white stripes amid a sea of blue collared shirts, high heels and dress pants.

Just a handful of Australia’s newest citizens at the Melbourne ceremony wore shorts or T-shirts, most of them in the younger age demographics.

Not one pair of boardies or thongs were seen at the ceremony, officiated by Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

Among the worst dressed in the hall were members of the media, with exposed legs in cargo shorts, sandals, jeans and work boots.

In his welcoming speech, Councillor Nicholas Reece told the crowd he disagreed with Mr Morrison’s dress code, to be enacted next year.

“Today I express my view that people should be welcome at a citizenship ceremony no matter how they dress,” he said.

“I trust people to make their own decisions about what is sensible to wear to a citizenship ceremony.”

New residents from more than 30 countries, including Malaysia, Mauritius and Montenegro, celebrated becoming Australian citizens at Melbourne Town Hall this morning.