by Adrew G.
I was in the CBD because my father had some business matters to attend to when Dr. Bibi contacted me regarding the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony and how CFS had been selected as one of the candidates for the Willoughby 2024 Environmental Citizen of the Year Award. Dr. Bibi explained that the Petal-it-Forward campaign was one of our stronger points, with the addition of the Return-and-Earn scheme reinforcing the impact. Weighing the outcomes of the proposed plan, I inquired about the way it was going to be presented and began planning for a speech.
A few days later, I remembered that the script had to be completed before the 26th of January, ideally a week before, to allow Dr. Bibi to edit and add more specific information. I began working on the script and had completed most of the introductory lines before getting distracted and working on other things. After a few on-and-off periods, I completed the speech around January 20th, and Dr. Bibi added her bits of information regarding the Petal-it-Forward campaign (to put a smile on someone’s face) and the Return-and-Earn scheme (return a plastic or glass bottle to earn 10 cents).
On the day of the ceremony, I arrived at the Concourse but did not see anyone lined up as if they were going to become citizens of Australia. I wandered around for at least 5 minutes, entering and exiting the main building in an attempt to find even a small crowd, but to no avail. Eventually, I gave up on looking for people and called Bibi, but gained no new information. At this point, Geoff (CFS’ honorary secretary) arrived, and a short while later, we found out it was next to the library. We quickly rushed there to find Bibi waiting for us. After some introductions, we entered the main room and were seated.
Several introductory statements were made before a performance by an Indigenous dance group (Diramu Aboriginal Dance), in which the Mayor even joined in. Soon after, the local awards were announced, which included Dr. Bibi as the Environmental Citizen of the year. Mckayla and I both made our speeches and took a group photo before being seated once again. Shortly after the awards were presented, we all joined in singing the Australian Anthem, and a few of our members left to get a table for yum cha at King Dynasty, a Chinese Restaurant nearby.
Once the ceremony concluded (all the new Australian citizens received their certificates), the rest of us dashed to King Dynasty for lunch. We all enjoyed the wide selection of foods of Bibi’s choice. Two highlights of the meal were my first-time eating chicken feet and a crepe with whipped cream and mango for dessert. We congratulated each other on the recognition for Dr. Bibi and the climate actions through her work with the Community Flower Studio, and then we parted ways.
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