The NSW government honoured six citizens for their exemplary service to multiculturalism in NSW at the Premier’s Harmony Dinner, concluding the month long Multicultural March celebrations in NSW.
The winners of the Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals received their award in front of over 900 guests at Rosehill Racehorse Garden, attending the gala evening, including Federal Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Recipients of the 2014 Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals are: 1) Mr Syed Atiq Ul Hassan – the Stepan Kerkyasharian Award, for extraordinary effort in promoting Australian multiculturalism locally and internationally through multicultural events, forums and news media;
2) Mr Thamir Shamaon – Youth Award, for his outstanding service as a young adult in community service and the promotion of multiculturalism;
3) Mr Jack Passaris – Lifetime Community Service Awards, for his commitment to community service and dedication to promoting social cohesion among members of different culture for over 40 years
4) Mr Joseph Toadros – Arts and Culture Award, for outstanding skills in playing the oud musical instrument and his success in binging commonality among communities of different ethnic backgrounds, culture and languages through music.
5) Mr Frank Newah-Jarfo, Regional Communities Award, for his effort and success in building harmonious relations between the African community and the wider community in Wagga Wagga.
6) Ms Sonia Ortega, Econmic Participation Award, for her outstanding achievement of Global Experience, which placed over 65,000 international student in ist home-stay program, which provides secure and caring environment for students.
Minister for Citizenship and Commmuities Victor Dominello described the recipients as “champions of multiculturalism.” Dominello also promised to release the NSW government’s position on a recent move in the Federal parliament to amend laws on racial and religious vilification.
Said Dominello,”NSW is truly one of the most multicultural societies in the world, with 200 languages spoken at home and over a quarter of our citizens were born overseas.
“Ultimately what unites our culturally diverse communities is a sense of mutual respect and belonging through our shared Australian identity,” Mr Dominello said.
Chair of the Community Relations Commission Mr Vic Alhadeff said the Premier’s Harmony Dinner, now on its third year, was an evening of colourful celebrations, bringing people together from across different cultures, faiths and linguistic backgrounds.
In 2012, the Multicultural Honour Board was inaugurated to posthumously record the names and achievements of significant immigration pioneers.
“The inductees are all true pioneers and leaders among our different migrant communities. We recognise them tonight for their dedication to promoting harmony and unity in the community.
Four names were also added to the Multicultural Honour Board for 2014 which was started in 2012 as a posthouse record of names and achievements of significant immigrant pioneers, namely:
1) Dr Farid Faraq MD (1927-2012) – for his highly regarded work as general surgeon and community activist for over 40 years;
2) Ms Magdalena Gustin (1914-2003) for her work in the development of foreign language programming on Autralian radio;
3) Ms Gloria Habib, (1949-2007) for her tireless work in advocating for cultural diversity and building the bridges between students, teachers, and parents from different cultural backgrounds and faiths;
4) Mr John Gephardt (1947-2011), for his illustrious career as teacher educator, and as a multicultural community advocate and tireless worker for the development of a multicultural NSW and Australia.