“There is a land where summer skies are gleaming with a thousand dyes” are the opening words.

But the patriotic song was a child of colonial times and ended with “Fairest of Britain’s daughters fair — Australia!”

Australia is a very different place now, a proud, independent, free nation uniquely formed of one continent.

Today Australia is home to 22.8 million and the old British link continues to weaken, though is still represented on our flag and by a Queen of Australia based in London.

About 13,700 men, women and children will become new citizens today and they come from many lands across the sea.

In Wodonga, five of the eight will be Indians and only one of the others is from Britain.

It’s good that they will “join the family” today because it’s when we celebrate what it means to be an Australian.

There’s no simple definition we can offer.

Australia is a diverse nation in our ethnic make-up and in terms of geography, economic and social conditions and climate, and even the football codes are stronger in some states than others.

Everyone has a different view of why it’s great to be an Australian.

We shouldn’t consider ourselves a superior people but do have the opportunity to enjoy lifestyles envied by many others.

Some take it all for granted, but not those who have lived in less pleasant places.

Thousands can bear witness to leaving their homelands after living under oppressive regimes that terrorised their people, whether under Nazi occupation, in a communist Asian country or in Sudan or Afghanistan.

Others can recall living in what by Australian standards could only be called horrid, cold climates.

They count their blessings every day when they see how their children or grandchildren can blossom in Australia without fear of hunger, torture or imprisonment

Sure, we can’t all be happy and contented possums but at least the chances of being so are higher here.

One characteristic highlighted today is voluntary work that makes Australia tick.

Hundreds of good volunteers will receive Order of Australia honours or citizenship awards.

We congratulate the Border’s recipients, and may they inspire others to be fair dinkum about helping their fellow Australians.