It was love that caused Mrs Carroll to move to Australia after growing up in Derbyshire, below Yorkshire in the north midlands of England.

She came to Australia for a holiday and wound up meeting Jonathan, the man she would marry, during a weekend visit to Orange with a mutual friend from Sydney.

When asked if it was love at first sight she replied: “It must have been I guess.”

Mrs Carroll said her family and friends were supportive of her decision to move to Australia, but it wasn’t all easy going

“It was hard, but by then I was in love and I had to follow my heart,” she said.

Mrs Carroll lives on a 1000 hectare property on Cargo Road, and enjoys country life because she grew up in the country in England.

She loves England and wasn’t looking to leave, she’s even thought about moving back for a period, but she and her family are happy in Australia.

"Probably one of the reasons why I love Australia is the good lifestyle that's available to most people, whereas in England the good lifestyle is not available to most, just the few people with plenty of money," she said.

“I also really like being in Canowindra, because being part of a small community makes you feel more welcome.”

There was no big event that made Mrs Carroll decide to become a citizen this year.

Of her three children, her eldest daughter is now 21, and she just felt it was time.

She is looking forward to voting in the next election.

“I always find it a bit frustrating when election time comes, because I'd lived here so long but couldn't have a say,” she said.

Mrs Carroll became an Australian citizen on Australia Day with a ceremony conducted at Cargo by Cabonne mayor John Farr.