Angelo Muguira

A citizen from the first Australian citizenship ceremony in 1949

Angelo Muguira is a man of few words.

When asked to describe how he felt about becoming an Australian citizen in the first citizenship ceremony in 1949, he simply said, 'Good.' When asked why he felt good, he said, 'Because I became Australian. Best country in the world... felt like I belonged, you know.'

Now 87, he lives with his wife Dulcie in Ayr in far north Queensland, after having spent most of his life running a cane farm. He is the father, grandfather and great-grandfather of a large and loving family, all of whom are profoundly grateful that he came to Australia as a teenager to chase the possibility of a better life.

Angelo was born in Spain and when he was 14 his family fled the Spanish Civil War to make a new life in Australia. After their months-long boat trip to Australia, the family were reunited with Angelo's father who had already established the Muguira family's cane farm in Queensland.

Angelo doesn't remember how, at the age of 26, he came to be selected as Queensland's representative at that first citizenship ceremony. 'It's a long time ago.' He does remember flying down to Canberra and meeting then-Prime Minister Ben Chifley.

When his children talk about their father and his contribution to Australia, their pride is unmistakable. 'He was a hard worker and a good father… exactly the sort of person Australia should be proud of.'