In Bega on Tuesday, 13 new Australians took the pledge to honour Australia's values and respect its laws.

Among them was Monica Bradford of Tathra.

Ms Bradford is originally from Los Angeles but moved to Australia 12 years ago to study a Masters of Protected Area Management at James Cook University.

She then completed a Masters of Teaching at the University of Wollongong's Bega campus, and is now teaching English at Bega High School.

She attended Tuesday's Australia Day celebration and citizenship ceremony with her husband David and six-week-old son Archie watching on proudly from the crowd (actually Archie was sleeping quite well in dad's arms through most of it!).

"I've lived in Australia for 12 years now and I really value democracy and the right to voice opinions here," Ms Bradford said when we asked why she made the leap to becoming a citizen.

"I can also keep my US citizenship so it was an easy decision."

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On recent events in her home country regarding democratic values, Ms Bradford said it was "shameful".

"In my 35 years I've never seen anything like that. The hatred and the division.

"It's amazing to see how powerful words can be, when someone like Trump can say anything he likes and so many take it as truth.

"It's a shame the positivity is not as powerful - and there is a lot of good happening there as well."

Ms Bradford said she was already seeing "hope and relief" among her family and other close connections back in the States following the inauguration of Joe Biden as the new US President.

For now she is more than happy to be making Australia and the Bega Valley her home.

"I'm very proud to live here and we're very happy.

"This is such a beautiful community and a beautiful land and culture."

Ms Bradford said Australia's Indigenous culture was something of which everyone should be so proud and the Indigenous students at Bega High were "part of the reason I'm so proud to be teaching there".

Joining Ms Bradford in becoming an Australian citizen at Bega Valley's Australia Day ceremony were Chloe Bourke (Britain), Andrew Campbell (Britain), Bruno Hofstetter (Switzerland), Verena Kuchenmeister (Germany), Derek Richmond (Britain), Smitha Sarpamalay (India), Viraat Akkera (India), Martin Vidal-Langlois (France), Nao Vidal-Langlois (France), Febe Valentin-Gill (Philippines) and Bernadette Wright (Philippines).

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