MANY people come to Australia because they want a new life, new future and better prospects.
One such woman was Cathy Gourbault who found all of that and much more.
This included meeting on May 25, 1981, an Australian, Hugh Lawrence at a JCI conference in Thailand 25 years ago.
Then marrying Hugh in 2002 in the Nagambie Uniting church's Little Chapel on the Lake that was destroyed by a truck in June 2003.
From 1998 until COVID times, Cathy has been travelling on a very regular basis (every five to six weeks) between Tahiti and Australia.
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On Tuesday, August 9, Cathy Gourbault–Lawrence, husband Hugh and a nice group of family and friends gathered at the Strathbogie Shire Council offices to see Cathy sworn in as a new Australian by Mayor Laura Binks.
They started a La Galerie de business in Nagambie which features attractive artworks and wares in the same building Hugh conducts his real estate business.
"Being apart has not always been easy in many ways for Hugh and me; but absence has reinforced presence, depth of the relationship and love for 25 years," Cathy said.
"For 15 years, I have been a permanent Australian resident.
"With COVID, and international borders being closed, the situation became rather complicated; after being apart from Hugh for nine months, I finally managed to fly back to Australia at the end of 2020.
"In 2021 my consulting business dramatically reduced its activity and my Galerie grew well, it was certainly the right moment to revisit priorities.
"At the end of 2021, it was time to apply for Australian citizenship."
Cathy spoke about her busy double life.
"When in Tahiti, I never stop; it has always been time for training, consulting, auditing, recruiting, and the many board commitments in associations for the community," she said.
"Life and agenda have been so full on; I have felt so privileged and humble to have received international awards and in 2015, being awarded the prestigious "Knight of French Order of Merit" (OAM equivalent in France) was such a great honour.
"When in Nagambie, life is quieter.
"It has been time for writing reports, preparing training seminars and recruitments, coaching managers, CEOs as well as running la Galerie de Nagambie and supporting Hugh's business.
"Above all it has been time for Hugh, family, friends, the garden and of course golf.
"It not always been easy to organize life when running my own training and consulting business in Tahiti.
"It has been a fantastic way to live a very intense and exciting life, getting the best of both worlds.
"I feel blessed; Tahiti and Australia have offered me so much in my life.
"I am so grateful to all my special Aussie friends, from Nagambie, JCI, and from Rotary, who have enriched so much our lives
"What a life journey, after all these years, I certainly feel humble, proud and honoured to become an Australian citizen.
"It will only be hard to choose who to barrack for when France will play Australia?
"What a big dilemma for me!"
Congratulations Cathy on becoming a New Aussie finally from your community of Nagambie.
