Australians all let us rejoice ...

Australians the world over will be celebrating Australia Day tomorrow by firing up the barbecue, having a few beers or playing a game of backyard cricket.

But for one local family the day means a whole lot more this year.

Desire, Juan and four-year-old Liam Pretorius from South Africa will become Australian citizens at a ceremony at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre tomorrow.

The South African-born family arrived in Albany in 2004 after responding to a call for dentists in the region.

Ms Pretorius said the family were proud to finally take their oath of Australian citizenship.

She said being accepted as Australians would help them provide a better future for their two children.

The Pretorius’ other son, one-year-old Evan, is already an Australian citizen after being born at Albany Hospital when they were permanent residents.

“When the recent floods were happening and I was watching it on the TV, I had this really warm feeling in my heart,” Ms Pretorius said.

“I thought ‘look at what it means to be an Australian citizen’. Look at how these people help each other.

“To me that was such a heart-warming feeling to know my family was becoming a part of that.”

More than 20 people from six different countries will become Australia citizens in the ceremony at Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre tomorrow.

The Albany ceremony is one of more then 320 planned across Australia, with more than 13,000 people set to become citizens.

City of Albany Mayor Milton Evans said Australia Day would be an important day for those people choosing to become Australian.

“Our citizenship is something we should all actively celebrate on Australia Day, whether we are Australian by birth or by choice,” he said.

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