TWENTY residents from the Maranoa district can now count themselves as Australian citizens.

On Tuesday night a crowd gathered at the Roma Cultural Centre to watch Mayor Robert Loughnan officially declare the group to be legal Australians.

It was an emotional night for many recipients, who had been working hard and anxiously waiting to see if they would be granted citizenship.

"Since our arrival in this country we have struggled to be productive, responsible members of the community- we see it as our small way of giving back to the state the benefits it has given to us," one of the new citizens said.

"We are now part of a nation that adheres to the principals of democracy, human rights and equality. We shall never forget this day."

The group of new citizens were made up of 19 Filipinos and one Canadian.

Mayor Robert Loughnan said it was a pleasure to welcome the group into the community and took the time to praise the local Filipino community.

"It's been a great privilege for the people of Roma to have you come in when you did at a time when we were having a lot of employment problems and to see you integrate into this community," Cr Loughnan said.

"It's been a real inspiration and I'd love to think every nationality could do the same- we'd certainly welcome that."

After the ceremony guests and new citizens enjoyed a smorgasbord of food, which included dishes from all over the world - prepared by Carers Queensland and the local Filipino community.

New Australian Citizens.

• Babylyn Abulencia
• Xandra Abulencia
• Dennis Balagbis
• Babylyn Balagbis
• James Gabriel Balagbis
• James Bernard Balagbis
• James Emmanuel Balagbis
• James Patrick Balagbis
• Jaimee Ann Nicole Balagbis
• Craig Nicolson
• Ronald Ocampo
• Maria Ocampo
• Karl Ocampo
• Orlie Rodriguez
• Rhowen Rodriguez
• Lindsay Rodriguez
• Leonedies Valeroso
• Maria Valeroso
• Marileigh Valeroso