The Assyrian National Council - Australia (ANC) hosted Australia Day Celebration Dinner at Monamor Reception in Fairfield, on 26th January 2023, over 150 guests attended the event including Federal Members for Fowler, Ms Dai Le MP; Dr Hugh McDermott MP: State Member for Prospect ; Mrs Tanya Davies MP , State Member for Mulgoa; Mayor of Fairfield Frank Carbone, Fairfield City; Councillor Carmen Lazar ; Councillor Marie Saliba; Councillor George Barcha; and from Liverpool City Council; Councillor Nathan Hagarty, Councillor Charishma Kaliyanda, Labor’s candidate for Liverpool at the 2023 NSW state election, as well as representatives from many local community organisations including ; the Cook Islands Community Council, Cambodian, Khmer Krom, Vietnamese and many Assyrian organisation.
The event was Live streamed to reach all Australians encouraging community members to get together to reflect, respect and celebrate Australian together. The Master of Ceremony Miss Leyana Alkhas started the program by introducing welcome to country, Smoking Ceremony and Cultural Performances by Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council which lased over one hour, giving the opportunity to our official guests and others to have photos with the Aboriginals , the Gandangara Cultural performance was joint by the Assyrian dancers which symbolised two indigenous nations sharing their culture together, it was followed by well-known Assyrian singer and Asshur Folkloric dancing groups.
Hermiz Shahen, ANC president in his welcoming speech said “Today, we come together to celebrate everything that makes our country great - our beautiful land, our rich culture, and our diverse and resilient people.
Australia Day is a time to celebrate the contributions that all Australians have made, and to look towards to the future with hope and determination. We are blessed to live in a nation that is known for its natural beauty, its unique wildlife, and its world-class beaches. We are a nation of innovators, a nation that is always looking for new ways to improve and grow.
We are proud of being Australians, living in a multicultural country that has allowed us to live in peace, harmony, and respect with people from diverse backgrounds. Mr Shahen ended up by saying: On a final note, I would like to thank the National Australia Day Council for providing the ANC with much-needed grants to make this evening happened and to help the community celebrate the privilege of being Australians.
Other speakers included Ms Dai Le MP, Federal Member for Fowler; Dr Hugh McDermott MP - State Member for Prospect; Mrs Tanya Davies, MP, State Member for Mulgoa; Mayor Frank Carbone, of Fairfield City and Councillor Carmen Lazar OAM.
The Australia Day celebration had taken a level of awareness among the community of Fairfield city, especially the Assyrian community that we are all part of Australia’ story. Although we have a different background, but we all celebrate the diversity of all our contributions. It was an opportunity to recognise the Aboriginal contribution, their continuing culture and connection to land, waters, and community; and to pay our respect to their elder’s past, present and emerging. It was also an opportunity also to learn about names and images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have passed away. It was also an opportunity to invite and share this day with representatives of many organisations and members of Federal, State, and local governments.
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