By BRIDGET SCOTT
IN an ironic sequence of events, Mr Muhammad Siddiqui was made an Australian Citizen on Sunday 26 January, exactly five years to the date that he moved to Australia.
On Australia Day in 2009, Muhammad came to Pakenham despite initially planning to move to the United Kingdom.
Previously living in Pakistan, Mohammad and his wife moved to Australia in a bid to find better education for their children.
In 2007, Mr Siddiqui came to Australia to sit an exam, and took the opportunity to purchase a land in Pakenham that he hoped his family would one day move to.
Two years later, his dream came true, and the container ship captain moved his family to Australia.
Mr Siddiqui, whose wife is already an Australian citizen, was eagerly anticipating his citizenship ceremony which took place at the Cardinia Cultural Centre last Sunday.
He said becoming a citizen was important to enjoy the same rights as others.
“It will give me voting rights and access to the electoral system,” he said.
In his 30 years as ship captain, the Pakenham resident said he had seen many places, but Australia seemed like the best country to move his family.
“Australia feels like home,” he said.
“The education system is great – it’s good in all fields.”
Mr Siddiqui’s wife Tamsil also said there weren’t many other places as good as Australia for education, and she liked the similarities her new home shared with Pakistan.
“There are so many different cultures here, and there is a strong community like there was in Pakistan,” she said.
