Bolton welcomes Pyke on Australia Day
The Sydney Swans’ Canadian ruckman Mike Pyke enjoyed a particularly special Australia Day this year, he was one of more than 17,900 people across the country to receive their Australian citizenship.
The citizenship ceremony was held at the Australian Maritime Museum, and Immigration Minister Scott Morrison presented 41 people with their citizenship certificate.
AFL NSW/ACT Deputy General Manager Craig Bolton spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the AFL’s commitment to diversity and inclusion; and welcoming Australia’s newest citizens to the community.
Pyke, who spoke to media prior to the event, said that his transition to dual-citizenship had been eventful.
“It’s been quite a journey the last six years and I probably didn’t expect to become an Australian citizen,” Pyke said.
“But (my wife and I have) felt very at home for the last few years and it’s a big step in our life.
“We’ve had a son here now, Jorge, so it’s nice to join him and to know you’re being embraced by the country you’ve lived in for six years.”
Pyke said he and his Canadian wife Florencia, who received her citizenship last year, are yet to decide which country they will call home once his playing career has finished.
Bolton congratuled Pyke’s teammate Adam Goodes on his Australian of the Year accolade, which kicked off a remarkable weekend for the club.
Craig Bolton’s Australia Day speech
Australian Rules Football is our indigenous sporting code, for more than 150 years it has been played in this format – but long before that it was played by our Indigenous first Australians as Marngrook football.
Last night one of our finest Indigenous players Adam Goodes received the award for Australian of the Year for 2014, a richly deserved accolade for him. Adam stands strongly and proudly on a wide variety of issues, and as a sporting code we stand beside him in promoting, not just in our code, but in society, a diverse and inclusive way of including and welcoming minority groups.
While we are Australia’s game, and our name is Australian Football, we strive to be acceptable and open to people from all over the world. I’m not sure many people here today have experienced AFL football either as a spectator or a player, but something we’re really proud of is that last year in our elite competition more than 25 per cent of players were from diverse backgrounds – whether they be multicultural or Indigenous heritage, or coming from overseas.
Today we have Michael Pyke among us, who five years ago made that transition from Canada to Australia to become a part of the Sydney Swans and the AFL family. Now I know Michael well, and I know he is extremely gracious and appreciative of the opportunities that our code and our country have given him, but it is us who should be appreciative and thankful for what he has brought to us, and for what everyone here today has brought in terms of skills and values. I know that many people today, including Michael, will receive the gift of citizenship, but our game and our country receives so much more in return – becoming more diverse and inclusive as a community.
The AFL today would like to welcome and congratulate, not just Michael on becoming a citizen, but everyone here today on becoming an Australian citizen. Thank you very much.
Photo: Mike Pyke, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and AFL NSW/ACT Deputy General Manager Craig Bolton pose for pictures following the citizenship ceremony.
