Mark Chernoff says he has always felt at home in Australia.
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The Cessnock City resident moved from Saskatoon, Canada, to Melbourne 11 years ago to study medicine at Melbourne University.
Dr Chernoff and his wife Sam, who is training to be a winemaker, moved to the Hunter Region two years ago when he started working as a GP in Singleton, and into the Cessnock area late last year.
His father-in-law was also born in Canada and their whole family has dual citizenship, so Dr Chernoff said it was a “no-brainer” to have his Australian citizenship made official.
“The people have always made me feel very welcome,” he said.
“I felt a civic responsibility to contribute to society and be involved.”
Dr Chernoff said the similarities between Australians and Canadians helped him settle in with ease.
“Our cultures are quite similar, the people are friendly and welcoming, with an easygoing nature and temperament,” he said.
And he’s not missing the cold winters of Saskatoon – where the temperatures drop into the minus-20s and 30s.
“We often joke that I haven’t been back to Canada in the winter for many years,” he said.
Dr Chernoff is among 24 people who will become naturalised at Cessnock’s Australia Day ceremony at East Cessnock Bowling Club on Thursday.
The new citizens hail from India, Malta, Britain, Canada, Malaysia, Nepal, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Denmark, the Philippines, Ireland and New Zealand.
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent said he looks forward to welcoming the city’s newest Australian citizens.
“Australia Day is a very special time to become an Australian citizen and be welcomed in to our community,” he said.
“I very much look forward to sharing our wonderful culture and celebrating with our newest citizens.
“It is fantastic to have so many people from all corners of the world making the decision to join our community.
“I encourage everyone at our Australia Day celebrations to reach out to our newest community members and make them feel very welcome.”
The ceremony will start at 10am and will also include a talk from Australia Day ambassador Lyndey Milan OAM, the presentation of Cessnock’s citizen of the year awards, and formal recognition of the emergency service workers who have helped battle recent bushfires in the town.
Well-known Cessnock entertainer Tara Naysmith will be the MC and will perform at the ceremony, along with Anthony Coyle.
A free community barbecue and Twenty20 cricket match will follow at East End Oval from midday.
Take a look back at last year’s Australia Day celebrations in the gallery below.
