BRAVO Kevin Donnelly for the opinion piece (C-M, Jan 21) stating so succinctly what it means to be Australian.
It doesn't matter where you come from or how proud you are of your heritage, until you embrace Australian culture and become a citizen, you are still just a visitor. 
Aussie culture may not be as refined or steeped in tradition as others, but it is friendly, well-meaning and tolerant. If that's not for you, why are you here?
Richard Marman, Parrearra
KEVIN Donnelly's opinion piece was interesting, informative and all-embracing regarding what it means to be Australian.
However, he omitted to mention our schools. As one who was educated in Australia and then became a teacher, I am convinced that it is in our schools where a bond is forged among young Australians.
It is an osmotic process where common values such as friendship, learning how to play a sport or a musical instrument, or just mucking around with like-minded mates brings us together as Aussies.
Admittedly the process is not 100 per cent efficient, but it is in our schools where "Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi oi, oi" is born.
Stephen Kazoullis, Highgate Hill
AS AUSTRALIA Day approaches, I reflect on what it means to be Australian and the day I became an Australian citizen. I was in a room with many other new citizens over 20 years ago.
I remember singing Advance Australia Fair for the first time as an Australian. I couldn't help but feel emotional. I come from an upper-middle class family and had a good job in Canada.
But I left it all behind to live in Australia. My husband and I raised three children, all born in Australia.
Canada is not too dissimilar to Australia. No country is perfect and the pasture isn't greener on the other side.
Somehow I have managed to survive homesickness, the sweltering summers and incidents of discrimination.
Becoming an Australian did not change me as a person but the definition of "home" changed. Canada is no longer "back home" anymore. Home is right here, right now.
I can't change my roots but I think my heritage can add something to this country.
By my nationality, values and loyalty to Australia, I am a proud Australian. I still don't call my friends "mates" but I call a quilt a doona and a cup of coffee a cuppa.
I might have a different accent and people may ask me what part of Ireland I am from but the strangest thing is, I only hear the Australian accent now and the Canadian accent sounds foreign to me.
It has been a long journey, but Australia is the place that I call home.Wendy Reyno, Aspley