In overcast weather more reminiscent of her former home in England than sunny Queensland, 92-year-old Iris Boatfield became an Australian citizen in a private ceremony with her family in Lawnton, in Brisbane’s north today.

“Mrs Boatfield is one of only a few people in their 90s the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is aware of who has made the pledge to become an Australian citizen,” a spokesman for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) said.

“Her decision shows it is never too late for someone to take the final step in their migration journey and become an Australian citizen.”

Mrs Boatfield came to Australia from England in the 1960s.

She said she has considered Australia her home for many years now and decided to become a citizen to join the other members of her family who are Australian citizens.

She and her husband decided to settle here while travelling around Australia on holiday after they were caught in a rainstorm just north of Brisbane.

“My husband was so amazed there was warm rain, we made the decision then and there to move to Redcliffe,” Mrs Boatfield said.

Mrs Boatfield joins more than four million people who have become Australian citizens since the Nationality and Citizenship Act came into effect in 1949.

People from the UK continue to form the largest nationality group who decide to become Australian citizens – last program year, 18 510 British citizens became Aussies.

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