HEARING the national anthem still gives Dani Andres goosebumps, so it comes as no surprise the city’s Australia Day Ambassador is incredibly proud to be an Australian.
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Mr Andres was in Bathurst on Friday as part of the city’s Australia Day celebrations.
He actually has ties to the city: his wife Emma McMahon grew up and went to school in Bathurst.
The couple married here and he refers to the city as his “second home”.
An elite runner and cyclist, Mr Andres is also a 15-time Ironman and full-time high performance coach, running his own business, Pulse Performance, in Balmain. He also coaches the largest squad of junior state and national cross country champions.
He has also competed in the Edgell Jog twice, coming fourth both times.
Speaking at the Australia Day celebrations, held at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre, Mr Andres made clear his love of Australia.
He came to Australia with his parents and siblings as a nine-year-old from war-torn Chile.
“We never looked back,” he said of their move.
“We embraced every opportunity of this wonderful nation. The people were wonderful and the food was great.”
Speaking to the city’s eight new citizens, he congratulated them on their decision to become Australians, and urged them to “take every opportunity the country has to offer”.
Mr Andres said there was so much to love about being an Australian, and he was honoured to be an Australia Day Ambassador.
“I’m so proud,” he said of being asked to fulfil the role.
“I never thought I’d be an ambassador. I thought only more important people, like celebrities, got asked to do something like this.”
