‘New country is now my home’

Four more people have officially called Australia home after being sworn in as new citizens last week at a Shire of Manjimup council meeting. John Durbin was among those four residents of the town who swore the citizenship oath in front of a full council chamber. Originally hailing from California, Mr Durbin moved to WA in 1999 after feeling like there was nothing left for him in America. Soon after arriving, Mr Dubin found he quite liked Australia and after stints living in Wanneroo and Bridgetown he moved down to Manjimup for work. Mr Durbin says that now he is married and has three kids here in Australia, he considers this new country home. “I have just had so much opportunities given to me here that I just would never want to go back, this country is more of my home than anywhere,” he said.