Australian Citizenship for Stephen Flynn

Australia Day celebrations saw the culmination of a 12-year story that began in Ireland for Narrabri resident Stephen Flynn when he was naturalised as an Australian citizen on Wednesday, January 26.

Stephen’s journey began when a friend, who had already located to Australia and was working in Narrabri, called Stephen and suggested he should make the trip.

At the time, Stephen’s friend was working on the first stage of the new Narrabri Hospital construction.

Prior to this, the Irish government had acknowledged the country’s descent into recession in September 2008, and a massive jump in unemployment had occurred in the preceding months to Stephen’s decision.

The recession was causing the decline of the construction industry and Stephen’s trade as an electrician was suffering as a result.

The unstable situation in Ireland proved to be the tipping balance and Stephen made the journey to Australia, armed with a working visa, in May 2010.

Based with a Sydney electrical company in the early days, Stephen landed work as an electrician for the second stage of the Narrabri Hospital build.

The move cemented Stephen’s relocation to Narrabri, where he met his partner Stacey and has settled here with their two daughters, Grace, 10 and Sophie 5.

Stephen is currently employed as an electrician with Boggabri Coal.

Stephen and Stacey enjoy a large family support network living in Narrabri.

Originating from an Irish country background, Stephen naturally gravitates to rural areas in preference to city living.

“Australia feels like home to me, with the country life and the friendliness of the people here very similar to my lifestyle in Ireland,” he said.

The family is looking forward to a long-awaited trip to Ireland in May, with Stephen’s family back home very excited at the prospect of reuniting with the young family again, especially Grace and Sophie who they haven’t been able to see for four years.

“The last time I travelled back home to Ireland was two years ago,” said Stephen.

“I made this particular trip on my own and I recall noticing COVID announcements and the beginning of people wearing masks when I touched down in Dubai – I arrived home to Narrabri at just the right time”.