The ceremony, at the Horsham Civic Centre, included a performance from Sing Australia Horsham and each new citizen was presented with a gift and certificate.

Horsham’s Anil Kumar said he was pleased to become an Australian citizen.

He said he moved to the region five years ago from India after his wife got a job as a nurse at Wimmera Health Care Group.

“We love it here and we’ve already built a house in Horsham,” he said.

“It’s such a nice place to live.”

Mr Kumar said he planned to stay in the region indefinitely.

Mayor Pam Clarke said citizenship ceremonies were important events.

“Citizenship is a common bond that unites all Australians,” she said.

“It is a status of which you can be proud of and I congratulate everyone on becoming citizens.”

The ceremony concluded with everyone singing Advance Australia Fair.