Council's customer engagement manager, Daniel Hogan, said a highlight of the day was the shire's annual citizenship ceremony with more than 170 residents sworn in as Australian citizens this year, including Xinhao Liu (pictured).

The event also included the presentation of community achievement awards. "[It] was a wonderful celebration of community," Mr Hogan said.

One of the shire's new citizens, Farhana Ahmed, said she enjoyed the ceremony and was looking forward to one day reuniting with her family in Bangladesh.

As reported by the Weekly, Mrs Ahmed will now be able to travel and return with an Australian passport.