Eminent Kiwi surgeon receives citizenship

The Greensmith family are conferred with citizenship by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd welcomed surgeon Dr Andrew Greensmith as an Australian citizen at a Regatta Point ceremony on Australia Day 2010.

'We feel like we're ready to make that commitment and it's a place I want my children to grow up in,' Dr Greensmith said. 'It's a land full of opportunity – it values people of all cultures, and that's what we really found great.'

New Zealand-born Dr Greensmith is a plastic and maxillofacial suregon who works at the Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital. He recently operated successfully to separate conjoined twins Krishna and Trishna.

Dr Greensmith became a citizen along with his Mexican-born wife, Victoria, and his two children, Claudia and Andres, on January 26. The family was among 77 people from 23 countries who became citizens at this special ceremony.

'Citizenship is about making that commitment long-term, and we're very excited about that,' Dr Greensmith said, adding it was the Australian attitude to life that really attracted him to Australia.

'It's the attitude of nothing's a problem, that everything is achievable.

'One of the great things about Australia is that anyone can have a go and has that same potential to achieve.'

Among the benefits of being an Australian citizen, Dr Greensmith highlighted the sense of belonging and the ability to fully participate in Australian society.

'We want to contribute to society, to be able to vote and all the rest of it, and I want my children to be able to do that as well, and they're growing up as Australians,' Dr Greensmith said.

Return to: Success Stories of Australian Migration