A Filipina mother's dream came true: to be with her children when they take Australian citizenship.

Cherry Fisher migrated to Australia in 2016, but it was only recently, on 17 September 2025, that she took the oath for her Australian Citizenship.

Cherry Fisher waited for her two children Vaugh Cadillac and Kiah Denise to be eligible for Australian Citizenship as she wanted to share this important occasion with them. The family after their Australian Citizenship Ceremony on September 17, 2025, at the Civic Hall in Ballarat, Victoria with Ballarat Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves (leftmost in photo). Credit: Cherry Fisher

Key Points

• September 17 is Australian Citizenship Day
• Cherry Fisher and her two children are among the 87 individuals to took their Australian citizenship oath at the Civic Centre in Ballarat, Victoria on Australian Citizenship Day.
• Cherry Fisher will never forget Sherley Hart, one of the elder Filipino community leaders in Ballarat that supported her and her husband Andrew Fisher during her early years in Ballarat.
• She says being an active member of the FAABI (Filipino/Australian Association of Ballarat Inc. helped her in meeting friends and expanding her network.

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