MONTH-old Jeremiah slept peacefully in his mum Sai Kham's arms, unaware of the importance of the occasion - his six family members had just joined him in becoming Australian citizens.
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The Nan Hee family - dad Ti Dang, mum Sai Kham and brothers Ah Jong, 5, Ah Dee, 7, Ah Phong, 9, and Ah Dee, 11 - came to Australia on July 15, 2010.
Originally from Myanmar, the family spent a number of years in a Malaysian refugee camp before moving to Wagga.
"I'm really proud to be an Australian citizen," Mr Nan Hee said.
"It's very different," he said, noting learning a new language as a major challenge.
Mr Nan Hee has been taking English classes for the past six months and has a strong grasp of the tricky tongue.
The freedom and respect people in Australia have are overwhelming for the Nan Hees.
The youngsters, who were perhaps too young to fully understand the significance of the day, said they had been standing for a long time and were looking forward to playing games.
Wagga Multicultural Centre manager Belinda Crain was thrilled to see the family achieving citizenship.
"When they found out they were receiving citizenship they ran up to the office to tell me," Ms Crain said.
